I Am But A Man

  I will write my book, just as we all do one page at a time. And I will write crisp clear and concise colors. I will write with all of the skill of a master poet. I will paint my picture with all of the colors of Michelangelo and let them bleed into one another, for I am but a humble artist who sees all of life as a grand and beautiful thing...I am Derick Ray  Van Dusen; Artist, lover, friend, Father, brother, son. I am just a man, take it or leave it, this is who I am!

 

  I will bleed out of me all that I can and do for others where others will not. I will share all of myself with the world and let them see me, and I will do it with all of the finesse and grace God gave me. I will be the artist and continue to paint. I will be the lover and continue to be loved. I will be the father and continue to raise my Daughter. I will be the brother and continue to set a good example; I will be the son and continue to take my fathers’ advice.

 

  I am an artist, I paint and I draw. I write and I read. I see color where others see only black and white. I see beauty in things that others cannot or refuse to see beauty in. I hear words in my mind like music from the greatest musicians. I paint with grand brush strokes and vivid images that float effortlessly from my brush. I see all of life as a source of inspiration. My pencil is always dull, for I use every shade of grey. My brush is always worn, for I am frantic to the canvas. I am an artist.

 

  I am a lover; I am gentle when my companion is blue. I am ruff when she is red. I take the time to rub her feet and kiss gently the nape of her bare skinned neck. I bring roses for no other reason than to bring beauty into her world. I will whisper sweet nothings into her ear and listen when she speaks. I draw her bath so she can relax away the angry day. I massage her soul with my own and run my fingers through her hair. I dance with her and sing with her and caress and hold her. I am a lover.

 

  I am a friend true to the core. I will go out of my way to help when you need it. I will give you the shirt from my back simply because I believe you need it more than I. I will be there for you when you need a hug or someone to smile at you. I will listen when no others ears can hear your tears. I will pick you up off of wounded knee when you’ve fallen on hard times even if you will not do the same for me. I will give of myself for you my friend because that is what friends do. I am a friend.

 

  I am a father and I will do all that I can to protect my Daughter and see to it that little harm befalls her. I will comfort her when she cries and hold her when she has had a bad day. I will support her in every way that I can, even if sometimes I do not agree with her. I will let her make some mistakes, for that is how we learn best. I will give her everything that I can but I will not spoil her, nor will I spare the rod. I will be there for her when she needs a hug or just needs to talk. I am a father.

 

  I am a brother and I am proud to call myself one. I will set an example for my siblings even though it may not be the best one. I will go fishing with my sister and brothers even though I do not like to fish.  I will support my brothers and my sister even if I receive none from them, though I do. I will stand up for them and fight for them, I would die for them. I will give them a place to sleep if they need it and a place to hang out when they want it. I will help them in any way I can. I am a brother.

 

  I am a son and I will make my parents proud. I will show my love for them until my dying day. I will respect them even if our opinions do not match. I may not always see eye to eye with my father but I am damn sure glad he is my Dad. I might not always agree with my mother but I am damn sure happy to call her Mom. I will listen to them even though their words don’t always make sense to my young ears. I will try to understand when they correct my path, as to why they did. I am a son.

 

  I am but a humble man who stands proudly before the world and screams to the heavens, THIS IS WHO I AM. Take it or leave it, I am but a man.

 

Reviews

[Ripple of Aqua]

This is a great write! Makes you want to reflect on the type of person you are and see things as they should be. And artist, a father, a friend, a brother, a writer, a single man who can be everything like that. Great work!

[Christina May Shanaberg]

If you can stick by every word that you have written, you will always be regarded as a perfect man. Life is very hard and you have to take a lot and give a lot, in this world. Wonderful write!

[Tate Morgan]

i SEE THIS AS A GREAT MANIFESTO OF YOUR HOPES DREAMS DESIRES AND CONTENT OF CHAARACTER

[Ruth]

Have missed your work love! This is tear inducing..in a good way! You take all elements and make them leap from the screen...a man ..yes...indeed...but an artist and fellow walker of art and knowledge in this world....brilliant work xx

[Joshua]

Amazing... I have to agree with Kenneth here.

[Kenneth The Poet]

I love this manifesto. Words to live by.