Sunday, July 22, 2018

Getting Down With A Poem Commission

By Timothy Allen


The world is rather bland. It can be drab, can be nothing but shades of gray. But there are little things that can be done in order to add a few splashes of color into the world. But those colors are not literal. In some cases, they can be metaphors, because the world is full of color. Part of that metaphorical color is a poem commission.

A poem is a series of verses. They are not necessarily rhyming, though most people think they do. But there is a structure to them. A series of couplets that flow together.

A commission is a job. Its when a person who does not have an artistic inclination agrees to pay a fee to someone who does. The money is the main variable. In effect, its an economic transaction.

There a multitude of reasons for commissions. For one, not every single person on the face of the planet is going to have an artistic inclination. They can appreciate it, yes. But they are not inclined to create it. So they hire people who are, people who may not have steady jobs because they are pursuing their art.

Poems have one purpose. That is to exist. But their existence is to be heard or read. They meant to move hearts and move minds as well.

The thing about poets, and other artists, is that they may not be readily available. The best place to find them in many cafes, but not chain cafes. Independent cafes with open mic nights are the best bet. As are college campuses. Of course, there is always the internet, where many of the younger creative types can be found.

Money is going to be an issue. Yes, its true that some people want their artists to be pure, to be untouched by the realities of money. But artists do not live in a vacuum. They need to eat, to pay rent, to pay utilities. So they are going to need their the money from the commission, because that is what a commission is. Its an exchange of money for services.

Of course, there must be a level of skill on the part of the poet. Anyone can string words together. Anyone can put words together that rhyme. But not everyone can put the words together in a way that can break and mend hearts, put the rhymes together until the very core of a person in totally moved.

The reality of the world is that it is not pretty. It is ugly, it is cruel, and it is wild. But not always. There are times when can be so beautiful that a person can be driven to tears.




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