Art School

I went to art school
partly to annoy my father
partly because I could think
of nothing else 
but mostly because I wanted to
to blacken my hands with charcoal
wrestle the blank canvas
really get down to it
become painterly

I went to art school 
and was taught
by a bitter man
who demanded silence
and was mockingly cruel
who seemed to believe 
that his German army helmet
and fuming roll ups
lent him edge and interest

l went to art school 
and had the art sneered 
right out of me