He gave a picture exhibition,
Hiring a little empty shop.
Above its window: FREE ADMISSION
Cajoled the passers-by to stop;
Just to admire - no need to purchase,
Although his price might have been low:
But no proud artist ever urges
Potential buyers at his show.
Of course he badly needed money,
But more he needed moral aid.
Some people thought his pictures funny,
Too ultra-modern, I'm afraid.
His painting was experimental,
Which no poor artist can afford-
That is, if he would pay the rental
And guarantee his roof and board.
And so some came and saw and sniggered,
And some a puzzled brow would crease;
And some objected: "Well, I'm jiggered!"
What price Picasso and Matisse?
The artist sensitively quivered,
And stifled many a bitter sigh,
But day by day his hopes were shivered
For no one ever sought to buy.
And then he had a brilliant notion:
Half of his daubs he labeled: SOLD.
And lo! he viewed with queer emotion
A public keen and far from cold.
Then (strange it is beyond the telling),
He saw the people round him press:
His paintings went - they still are selling...
Well, nothing succeeds like success.
It is a well articulated poem on artist by Robert William Service.
Nothing succeeds like success. Brilliant idea of marketing discovered by the artist.
And so some came and saw and sniggered, And some a puzzled brow would crease; And some objected: " Well, I'm jiggered! " ...........an artist has great efficiency to solve the fact of problem; anyone can enjoy the solution because of the solutions are made on the base of wisdom//// great poem penned
Nicely said. However, don't you think it has all the beginning, middle and ending of a " Short Story" . Reading it left me wanting to know more.
***** (five, count them!) stars for this one. So, if looking for a poem with a certain topic, PH MIGHT be able to help YOU. ;) bri
I DID laugh...but not till the very ending. Bravo for 'thinking outside the box', Robert William Service (16 January 1874 - 11 September 1958) .
I was looking for a fun/funny poem from PH's list of poems relating to the word FUNNY. Well, my goodness, I FOUND one, by an author whose name I recognized!
" Nothing succeeds like success" . The realization of the fact made the artist to employ a marketing trick that worked. The story of the artist penned most adroitly through this beautiful verse well deserved classic poem of the day.
Then (strange it is beyond the telling) , He saw the people round him press: His paintings went - they still are selling... Well, nothing succeeds like success. nothing succeeds like success. a fine theme to ponder. tony
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Yes, knowing the mentality of audience, arists have to canvass for their areative products in the market to succeed in the world of art! Thanks for sharing!