Perhaps I Missed My Calling

   I'm still here. I'm still slogging ahead. I tell people (and myself) that things are better than they really are, and that they're getting better every day. I fancy that every one loves my artwork ( whether or not it's really true) and that no one could ever replace me. I hide my private life, never letting on when I encounter a setback. My public persona: always smiling, always positive, always expecting the best. I try to find ways to get others to finance my dreams. While thinking about all this today it occurred to me that I sound more like a politician than an artist. Then I thought, "what could I do to be more like an artist, other than creating art?". I suppose I could cut my ear off. Perhaps I could start wearing a black beret and smoking one of those skinny black cigarettes. I could squat in an abandoned warehouse in the crappy part of town. I could go on TV an act like a pretentious son-of-a-bitch (but now I'm drifting back to the politician-like behavour ). I really don't know what to do. Anyone have any ideas?