~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Authentic Art
By La Belle Rouge


being human in all its diversity
bearing well the burdens of life
without denying such pain exists
knowing love cannot be imprisoned
for it is stronger than bolted doors
this is the purpose of another year
an opportunity to advance toward
the goal of creating authentic art


oh God give me a pen of purity
not one to scribble only pure words
oh no, not that, no artificial piety
for pious, you well know, I am not
let my words divulge a mixture of
all the truths that dwell in my soul
the good, the bad and even the ugly
given equal respect and expression


give me the strength to raise high
the knife of honesty and slash deep
my secretive heart until, from within,
her contents gush freely onto the page
for nothing less than an exposed heart
will ever produce poetry worth reading
or penetrate the sealed hearts of others
until tears become mingled with tears




12/28/210 La Belle Rouge