What Is Art?

Perceptions of art questioned...

What is art?
A rhythmic rhyme?

What is art?
Words captured in time?

What is art?
Words put on display?

What is art?
Fanciful words that we say?

Is it a ranting tirade of anger
Exposing a jaundiced view
Of city streets
Mean people
Sorrowful expectations
Grasping for meaning?

Is it perspective
Viewed
Sideways
Askance
Off centered?

Is it a meter?
Is it a measuring glance?
Is it life captured?

Words
Having meaning
Attesting
To

Introspection
Saying

Agonizing
Realities
Translated
?

Beauty captured in a moment
Words defined as we foment
Concentrating on a comment
Politically trapped lament

Is it words expressing the emotion and perspective of the writer as a commentary rather than a poetical turn of phrase; expressing the joy, the angst, the fears, the wants, the desires, the observations, the impact made or received from a moment in time captured by a run-on sentence?

Art in word, what is this thing?
Art in word, making words sing?
To write, to capture?
To anger, to enrapture?
Is there any truth to let this ring?

What is this art we seek to say, to tell?
Is it the words, the rhyme, a say, meter?
Poet’s phrasing, t’capture thinking to sell?
Or t’hold a word distinct, per adventure?
What is this art, words seeking to express?
Logic n’anvil, hammer n’pen, striking?
What is this art, coined phrase in duress?
Metallic sheets, pages of blot shrinking?
What is art but perspective giv’n
Turns of phrases making others to think.
Choicer ‘xpressions, made among the living
To guide and show in pica form, not ink?
Alas, are we all fools yet once again?
An emperor’s tale, a’once naked yet sane.

What is art, the poet queried?
Of his definition, his mind wearied.
Reading too much in jumbled thought,
Rantings and ravings, his mind besought.
Callous and careless, words have been given,
As if by many words, exorcise, demons riven.

With no definition accepted, art dejected.
Gone are the masterworks once inflected.
Whither are they now, no forked paths to take.
No tales of kings, queens, princes, spears to shake.
Of millers and bakers, and odes to a louse, a duchess,
Of ravens and hearts and eyes, at least this much is?
Of politics and meanness, of anger and angst,
For what is considered art, I give thanks.
With meaning lost, expression disjointed,
I pray for the few, the gifted, the anointed.
Let words ring with sorrow and wit.
Let words ring with joy, tumultuous fit.
For what do I know, as I get older.
They quote oft, beauty, in the eye of the beholder.

Reviews

[Crimson Shadow]

I love the way this seemed to be poking fun at the worn out cliche' angst filled poems splashed in every pool found on the internet. I suppose anything created via imagination could be considered "art" by some, but if the poem doesn't breathe originality with a deep meaning I value to some degree ....I find myself not being interested in THAT art.

This was a great question to explore. I just had to read your response to it.
Love the way you rattled the run on.

Well-written - shows you know a thing or two about poetry.

[E. M. Murren]

Lovely thoughts. Important questions asked. I fear sometimes my writings do not hold up to the standards set... but I try. Your thoughts are eloquently expressed. Cheers.

[Blackbirdsong]

An interesting exploration of exactly what art is and how to define it, if that's possible. The structure you use really helps everything flow.

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

Good poem and i love the way it makes you think.. art is in the eye of the beholder..
This poem is art.

Chloe
xoxo

[Clarisse Nanoit]

VERY great. This is a nice, throught-provoking piece that could've have come from the pen of some greats themselves. I like this a lot. I'm glad you entered the contest! :) Best of luck!
KH

[Robert Luna]

well I am art and everything around me is art. The people I meet on the street and in place I care not to say where i have been are all pieces of art that make up a mosaic piece of beauty and hatred. The world itself is art in motion constantly.

Great Job!!!