Poem 64  (Pandemic 67)

How To Be An Artist

Stay loose. Learn to watch snails.

Plant impossible gardens.  Invite

someone dangerous to tea.  Make

little signs that say yes! and post 

them all over your house.  Make friends

with freedom & uncertainty.  Look

forward to dreams.  Cry during movies.

Swing as high as you can a a 

swingset, by moonlight.  Cultivate

moods.  Refuse to "be responsible."

Do it for love.  Take lots of naps.

Give money away.  Do it now.

The money will follow. Believe in magic.

Laugh a lot. Celebrate every gorgeous

moment.  Take moonbaths.  Have 

wild imaginings, transformative 

dreams, and perfect calm.  Draw on the

walls.  Read everyday.  Imagine yourself

magic.  Giggle with children.  Listen to old

people.  Open up.  Dive in.  Be free.

Bless yourself.  Drive away fear.  Play

with everything.  Entertain your inner

child.  You are innocent.  Build a fort

with blankets.  Get wet.  Hug trees.

Write love letters.

SARK, (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy), A Creative Companion: How to Free Your Creative Spirit, Celestial Arts, 1991.

Do you know this irrepressible spirit known as SARK?  She makes a great creative companion--it is not idle musing that this book will help you free your creative spirit.  The poem above, in poster form, which I discovered about 30 years ago inspired me like nothing had before.  I hand-lettered my own copy and then set about creating "impossible gardens", inviting "dangerous people to tea", and embracing more willingly and openly the things I already found easy to do--crying at movies, looking forward to dreams and reading everyday.
I'm so glad to revisit this poem today.  I already found myself getting wet by staying out gardening in the light rain that was falling this afternoon; and taking lots of naps is more appealing now than ever and also much easier to get by with.
What better way to drive away fear and bless yourself than with a healthy dose of creativity?  Take SARK's advice and be bodacious and succulent--celebrate each gorgeous moment!