Art? Poem by Tom Courtney

art surrounds me i surmise
is sculptor tactful poet wise?

is beauty calculated far?
is mortal touching distant star?

where is this sense of what is grand?
is genius accident or planned?

this calculus geometry
this mesmerizing panoply

of human unfolding imperfection
in object, truth a near detection?

in contemplation of this life
the seeds in heart of buried strife?

in complacency a dullness born
in consistency I am forlorn?

a quiet sadness hovers near
in habit formed a crystal tear?

that we are never satisfied
our spirit lost our fervor died?

this mixture of the bittersweet
creates an awesome fiery heat

that drives us to the pen to wrestle
to find our dreams wherein they nestle

and keys that calm the raging storms
in many styles and shapes and forms

we study what we’re yet to know
we sense another’s urgent glow

then find it quite within our manner
to sing the song to raise the banner

to say what ne’er was said so well
to sketch the line ‘tween heaven and hell

to find our heart to share our dream
to give it shine to make it gleam

we seek in art our hopes of love
we send on wings this lonely dove

to fly above our barren land
our heart’s own life to speak to stand

to say to others it’s just my best
before my heart and soul can rest