the outlines are prepared, they say
by people in the know
and they are quite specific
where the colors ought to go
well, i choose my own damn colors
and i also choose the lines
so the image i'm creating
will be of my own designs
painting by numbers
was never for me
my mind will form visions
no other can see
a puzzle, i piece
or perhaps pull apart
but painting by numbers
to me is not art
just fill the little bubbles in
be careful not to stray
may you be filled with discipline
and not with disarray
well, i'll scribble if i want to
and i'll let the colors bleed
for my own imagination
all the pallette that i need
painting by numbers
is not apropos
i don't need a framework
inside, i just know
a rhyme i compose
or perhaps, backwards, spin
but painting by numbers
is surely a sin
you see that picture on the box
that's how it ought to look
you'll be a brilliant artist
if you do things by the book
well, i toss away directions
and i tend to dive right in
when it comes down to authority
my patience grows quite thin
painting by numbers
you don't take a chance
it's pictures of footprints
while trying to dance
and no, i can't dance
furthermore, i can't draw
but painting by numbers
should not be the law
| 
Email this Poetry
| 
Add to reading list
