Longing Becomes Art (also for Riley)
Longing becomes art.
Art becomes enjoyment.
Enjoyment becomes shows.
Shows become employment.
Employment because aaaargh!
Aaaargh becomes strain.
Strain becomes I Need A Vacation
For My Addled Brain.
Brain senses loss.
Loss becomes lack.
Lack of inspiration.
Inspiration slack.
Slacking, she wonders,
where did it start?
Time gives her longing.
Longing becomes art.
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Poetic Bloomings asked us to take the last line from one of our old poems and use it as a springboard for a new work. The first line is from “Artistic,” about my daughter, Riley. The final line was, “Longing becomes art.” To see the original poem, head to this link, https://sharplittlepencil.com/2011/11/10/artistic-for-riley/
Sharp Little Pencil 
Madeleine Begun Kane
Talk about going full circle! Well done. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Riley’s the one doing it all well. So proud of our budding artist! Thanks, Mad. Amy
Debbie
Wonderful! I loved making all the progression and then getting back to the start again! 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
That was the prompt, and I’m happy with how it came out, even if it was the same subject… but I could write about Riley all day! Proud mom. Love, Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
I so love the way you describe this cycle………..this is exactly the way it goes…….awesome, kiddo!
Sharp Little Pencil
These cycles in life… I’ve had them over and over. I’m recycled, I guess! Thanks so much, Sherry. Peace, Amy
Steve E
GOSH! Is this what is meant…”What comes around, has gone around”? –grin! And where she stops, nobody knows!
PEACE!
Sharp Little Pencil
Wherever she stops, Steve, it will most likely still be in Southern California. Round and round… very nice comment, thanks! Amy
poetcolette
Ah,
that infinite loop.
Sharp Little Pencil
Loop-de-loop. And Riley’s mom? A bit loopy herself, wink! Amy
poetcolette
;D
oldegg
She may think she is slacking but even as she lazes on the beach or walks in the woods or dances with her fiends she is absorbing ideas possibly unbeknown to her. She is not wasting her time, she is recharging her batteries, adding to the library of experiences and revitalising her brain. It is all part of artistic creativity. The longing is there all the time…admit it!
Sharp Little Pencil
Actually, Riley’s problem is usually too MUCH work, so this is in part fiction. She is so focused, she’ll work through dinner and then go to bed after gobbling fruit and yogurt! Funny, I was the same way when I was younger, too. She has Asperger’s, a mild, high-functioning form of autism, which tends to bring out “tunnel vision” in young people… Thanks, hon. Amy
Renee Espriu
Your Riley sounds like a ‘kindred spirit’. I so understand where she is coming from.
Sharp Little Pencil
She’s very likeable, very driven, and actually doesn’t have the “lapses” this poem portrays… it’s kind of what I wish for her. More lollygagging on the beach and less grindstone, but she’s her mama’s kid, so there you go! Thanks, Renee. Amy
Pamela Smyk Cleary
Oh yes! Art & inspiration require downtime to rejuvenate — for sure. Love the full circle wholeness of this, Amy — and the poem that inspired it as well. Lovely!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Pamela. The work of all artists, poets included, does require that down time. I only wish that part of this was not fiction – Riley is driven, driven, an Energizer Bunny. Then she gets the flu… man, the apple didn’t fall far from the maternal tree. See you soon, Amy