Suppose you chained an artist to your dream.
Suppose you put pebbles in his shoes,
And made him wear hot, wool underwear.
(Everyone knows the tortured artist paints
The best masterpieces).
Suppose you gave him brushes
And a canvas and a palette
But gave him a knife in lieu of pigments.
Suppose you turned the heat up
Six degrees,
And offered him a cool glass of water
But only when he was done.
Suppose you held his muse hostage
Dangling over a conveniently placed
Vat of acid or hungry rats.
Do you think he’d favor Picasso?
Or Warhol?