All children play with clay, but only one
Becomes a real sculptor anywhere.
He modeled birds and animals for fun,
And fell in love with sculpting then and there.

He hated public school, got through eighth grade,
Spent one day in high school, then quit for good.
He knew just what he wanted; he had made
The choice to be an artist -- and he would!

His creativity came from delight
In Nature and in everything he saw.
His memory, phenomenal and bright,
Inspired conversation and much awe!

Miss Alta Wiggins was a teacher who,
He said, had given him some good advice.
Young thought it was so useful and so true,
That I decided to include it in a trice.

When you draw a straight line,
Look at the point where the line is going to end,
Not at the point of your pencil.

That motto, which is certainly applicable in Art,
May have some relevance in the affairs of Mind and Heart.

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

[Written November 18, 2006.]