my art teacher
the man listened
looked at what I did
sure there were other kids there
making better representations
in life sketches & paint
while I flung down
trying to force fat fingers
shape stuff from my head
& this cat got it
understood the frustration
of getting it down
the ideas vision
even if the flesh was weak
he was willing to follow
& that was good for a while
but like all jealous lost adults
children have to have hierarchy
& they thought themselves
better than me
surrounded the artist
to let no one else in
looking over their shoulders
thinking only they
could love the man
needed the attention he had
