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"Little Old Johnny Deeply"
When Johnny
was nine,
he discovered
something fine.
It was all
about how
people heard
what he said.
It was all
about blues,
and yellows,
and red.
See, his voice,
through the air
seemed to cause
a reaction.
Some birds
would change colours,
others feathers
would ruffle.
The truth
seemed to be,
they heard words
then transposed them.
Now when Johnny turned 10
he decided, right then,
to be very honest:
a living life-promise.
As all-the-more honest
old Johnny became,
the pictures and colors
of all he wrote changed.
Some turned to earth brown,
others indigo night,
others were deeply
burnt oranges learning.
Some birds
heard his words
and just
flew away quickly.
Others
came to rest
and once here
built a nest.
When Johnny turned 80
he sat on his porch
to ponder the sky
every dawn and dusk new.
He felt no regrets
for the colours he stirred,
throughout his long life,
just by keeping his word.
© Copyright July 4th, 2010
All national, and international rights reserved
By C.C. Arshagra and press22publishing.
"Little Old Johnny Deeply" by C.C. Arshagra
Artists & Illustrators’ inquires welcome. Contact: C.C. Arshagra
Inspired by the living experience I have come to love and grow by,
And from all the artists and friends (Via their inspirational works, comments, and b-mail communications) found on RedBubble.com.
Please comment!
Thank you all.
cc
Comments
Oh melts…. As I listen to your words I felt like chocolate … melting… delicious CC :)
Thank you dear karin, Did some tweaking since your comment. Should flow a little better. Also returned it to its original title.
– C.C. Arshagra
I like the idea of how the ‘transposing’ happens … none of us is here alone – we influence each other all the time …. how good is it to be aware of it and try to stir things in such a way that those brighter- true colours to come to life …. yes …no regrets about that :)
Thank you dear annamora, Here’s how i see this. Sure, feelings matter. But why be an artist, if an artist’s goal is to think one can control what people will think of one’s art, or one needs to be better than a fellow artist, the needing, in someway, for other artists (challenging inhumanity and other dark issues of behavior in society) to fail in the court of popularity so that one may succeed at the cost of one other hunger.
One really cannot ever control what and how people recieve art, If one needs so bad to and they try to, then the very reason he or she creates will not guide but be guided. will not choose but be chosen for them in exchange for being liked. This is why the some fine artist are not necessarily ever deemed comercial art. They die poor and unknown. There is no appeasement, no appologies for ones creative choices when one does one’s soul calling and not chase popularity’s need.
No superior right art and inferior wrong art. Like; Pink Floyd is not better than Rembrandt (visa versa) stuff. It is not about competition. It is not sport. Transposing happens, is almost a given.
– C.C. Arshagra
Every word we say affects others through our life … you have captured this so beautifully C.C. … a wonderful long life with every verse colouring the meaning of living and interacting and loving and filling your own and others lives with the magic of words!
I miss you like a man in the desert would miss water, Thank you Jen.
– C.C. Arshagra
There is a lesson here that I missed earlier, i have indeed struggled when faced with a negative reaction or scolding for what I’ve created… I’ve felt there were certain things I MUST paint which will obviously not be commercial and it’s like a wrestling match within to allow them a rite of passage, one of these I’ll be working on today… I dint know what the reaction will be… Sometimes I get a sense that others feel it’s a waste of my time… I could create these less appealing paintings and keep them hidden but what I want is acceptance warts n all… Understanding etc and a shared view… I want too much and my expectations are far too high
but as an artist I fully identify with the struggle, but I intend to present the parts less liked also…
It is a risk… One I take knowing that I may become less popular, less understood, less liked…. all the ‘opposites’ but we can’t have everything. Staying true to the sweet only makes me of less interest to commercial galleries, but more liked in rb… Staying true to myself makes me more attractive or respected to galleries, less attractive on rb… it’s hard when your soul wrestles, but staying true to the artist within is the right way
And so to soul choices are! Very raw true to self and brave vulnerability here.
I like to read ‘to kill a mocking bird’ Note. When the daughter asks her dad why he is going to defend the man.
– C.C. Arshagra
it’s so complicated and yet so simple really….there may only be one reason, to remain true to ourselves, but in doing so….much else can be affected….the thinking person knows this intrinsically…that doing the ‘right’ thing no matter the circumstances…results in moving heaven and earth in the hearts of men and woman….there is a domino effect….and I think that to continue doing something that is meaningless or has lost it’s impetus is to simply go around in circles Mad World