Born in Neosho, a Missouri town,
The scion of a long, distinguished line
Of lawyer-politicians of renown,
And poised to fit into his Dad’s design,

Young Tom, before a painted bar-room nude,
Was teased to prove his int’rest was in art
By grinning roughnecks who were coarse and lewd
But forced him to confront his doubting heart.

Led by one roughneck who had challenged him
To get a job as artist that same night,
The boy, just seventeen, showed he could limn
A likeness of a man -- and won, all right.

Thus did the youngster start on his career,
With his first-ever drawing of a living
Person! Yet in that bar-room he did hear
Himself declare himself, without forgiving,

Artist! “Yes, by God, I am, and I am a good one!”
Thus is an artist born, when all is said and all done.

Copyright (2006) by Arnold Cantor.
All rights reserved.

[Written November 8-10, 2006.]