Civilization is
social order supporting
cultural creativity.

Will Durant

The picture below elicited the following poem:

“A Lyrical-Letter to My Art Teacher.”

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NOTE:
As a youngster, I always got an “A” on my Art work. But was worried I would end up with a “B” on the picture you see above, because I had to erase a number of times, in an effort to correct the airplane wing’s perspective .

I didn’t succeed, as you can see! But the strong emotion involved in the project elicited the following poem:

“A Letter to My Art Teacher:

Dear Mr. Webb:
If you’ll take mercy on my age,
You’ll excuse the mistakes on this page;
But look at it and like it not,
The blood in my veins will be running hot!

I thought and I drew to get an “A,”
And expected it to be that way.
The smudges and the creases you see
Were made ’cause I didn’t want a “B.“

“Don’t see the badness; the goodness, instead.
I drew it all with a pencil lead.
The idea didn’t come from brain,
But I drew it’s all, just the same.

Isn’t it wonderful? I think it is.
The dolly was made for sister Liz;
The drum was made in honor of Ted —
He does so admire purple and red.

The rest was made’ cause the idea was that way;
I think it’s the image of a Christmas Day.
I know, myself, the airplane is queer;
To leave it out would ruin the design so dear.

Of course, if you don’t give me an “A,”
It means you didn’t see it that way.
But I spent a very long time on it.
For hours it seems I did sit,
Trying to make this X-mas scene perfect.

If you knew how hard it was to do,
You’d take mercy on my age —
My inexperience too;
You’d think of it my way,
And in your Grade Book
Mark another “A.”

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Note:
It seems my lyrical-letter worked:
Mr. Webb gave me an “A.”
Then wrote a little poem
of his own to say:

“You’ve been a good girl
Every day;
Your pictures are great
And well worth an ‘A’.”  
~Mr. Webb

(Thank you, Mr. Webb:
You made my day!)

NOTE:
The following is the original poem,
written on the back of the above picture.

Following this handwritten lyrical-letter are some pictures I did in art classes, from ages twelve through fourteen.