Artists may damage
parts of themselves over time
because the beauty
they create for the world
can only be made by minds
brilliant and fragile
hopeless and romantic
they view life through a scope
all their own
from which tragedy
and miracles happen
blood pumps from beating hearts
as they feel life’s pulses
sensing realities
others never consider
they may not know how to grasp
their own talent and depth
or the true
harsh nature of existence
so they reach out to find
what they hope will fill
the void within
and become addicts
this is why so many
beautiful artists
eventually spiral
into unbecoming endings
like leaves falling wistfully
through an autumn breeze
graceful and inevitable
bittersweet and purposeful
to the end
Shannon is a writer with dreams of becoming published.