hits home Chess, I guess a lot of us would fit this piece, great versing. The art looks like Pablo Picasso, Van Gogh would probably fit your verse also, he wacked his own ear off, couldn't hardly sell a painting when he was alive, now his work is worth millions, anyway I have a BS in fine arts, sometimes I relate it to a Bullchit degree, but I've never cutt off my ears, I do relate to the "Starving artist signs though", cheers

I think many are dealing with this today..life is a struggle~heartfelt words~

Wow, this one touched me, I guess perhaps I was sort of a male version of the poems character. My dad took a massive heart attack when I was in my first year of high school and with three brothers younger than I, a mother who was also ill I began working to help out and pay bills and soon ended up leaving school to work full time just to make ends meet. I don't regret it but often wonder what my life would have been like if I had went on to finish high school, college etc.
fee

Beautiful, and a captivating story. I hope someday she'll get the recognition she deserves.

What a heartwrenching piece that I can relate to very well. I can hear and feel the emotional struggles dealt with alone...

Be always safe,
Karen

If this is the lady I think she is, then from what I see and from what I read, yes, she has become a "real" lady.
Your friend, Mark

My late sister Penny, was one of those teenagers you wrote about. I am the brother who would not be here today if she had not been there and done all the things you wrote about. Thanks, Penny. I love and miss you!

Your poetry brings to life the world around us we never bother to see.

George