So it is the duty of the artist to discourage all traces of shame <br />To extend all boundaries <br />To fog them in right over the plate <br />To kill only what is ridiculous <br />To establish problem <br />To ignore solutions <br />To listen to no one <br />To omit nothing <br />To contradict everything <br />To generate the free brain <br />To bear no cross <br />To take part in no crucifixion <br />To tinkle a warning when mankind strays <br />To explode upon all parties <br />To wound deeper than the soldier <br />To heal this poor obstinate monkey once and for all <br /> <br />To verify the irrational <br />To exaggerate all things <br />To inhibit everyone <br />To lubricate each proportion <br />To experience only experience <br /> <br />To set a flame in the high air <br />To exclaim at the commonplace alone <br />To cause the unseen eyes to open <br /> <br />To admire only the abrsurd <br />To be concerned with every profession save his own <br />To raise a fortuitous stink on the boulevards of truth and beauty <br />To desire an electrifiable intercourse with a female alligator <br />To lift the flesh above the suffering <br />To forgive the beautiful its disconsolate deceit <br /> <br />To flash his vengeful badge at every abyss <br /> <br />To HAPPEN <br /> <br />It is the artist’s duty to be alive <br />To drag people into glittering occupations <br /> <br />To blush perpetually in gaping innocence <br />To drift happily through the ruined race-intelligence <br />To burrow beneath the subconscious <br />To defend the unreal at the cost of his reason <br />To obey each outrageous inpulse <br />To commit his company to all enchantments.<br /><br />Kenneth Patchen<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-artist-s-duty/
