Never Challenge

Never Challenge

never challenge
a man's 
conception
of himself

never challenge
since
the artifice
the deceptions
are his life's work
his artful masterpiece

never challenge
since his conceptions
of himself
are his only
defense

never challenge
a man's poetry
or portrait
of himself

never challenge
that he isn't
the master
the genius
of words
or form and color
he needs
to be

never challenge
never compare
your artwork
to his
since
a man's
portrait
of himself
needs
to be real
while
a true master
of his craft
understands
it's nothing more
than a representation

maybe this
is the difference
between the master
and most
other
men
even
most other
artists

it's cruel
to challenge
the work
of an artist
so don't do it
whereas
the master
timidly
accepts
the hurt
the pain
the challenge
the uncertainty
of never knowing
what he
or his artwork
is

the shy
timid
master
skeptical
of open palms
abused as he's been
by his own
slaps
and fists

it's less 
cruel
less painful
for the master
to be challenged
through his soft
defenses
since he's well accustomed
to inflicting
most of that pain
and cruelty
upon
himself

the master
of his craft
always
a work in progress
understands
the cruelty
of challenging
the masterpiece 
of the artist

the master
of his craft
from sympathy
and experience
instead of the artist
aims
his cruelty
a religious
self-flagellation
a hunger strike
against certainty
at himself
and his art
armed
with no more
than the cruel 
uncertainty
of his faith
in art