Cliche

   
what do you know about art?    
    
dying for your passion    
one word, one feeling at a time    
    
of sleepless nights    
reaching to the heavens    
for a shining idea    
    
or traveling the back allies    
when your mind is in the gutter    
and no proper noun will do    
    
a slutty verb    
a real trick pleaser    
call for a good time    
Jenny from round the block    
    
she will suck you    
for a shot of the hard stuff    
then leave you cold    
    
and you're back to the trenches    
to dig out some poetic gold    
will you sell your soul    
for the right phrase?    
    
a metaphor so unique    
it's sweet wine    
to the educated palate    
to the refined writers of the world    
who refuse to read plain speak    
    
I covet those moments in the sun    
when I rise to the top    
cream of the guild    
    
I am driven to capture    
these words    
and bring them into submission    
    
it's a love, hate affair    
sprinkled with the cliche    
    
will you die for your art?    
    
give all that you have    
and all that you are    
so that it may live