The Way of Art

By: Albert Huffstickler

Painting: Edward Hopper

It seems to me that,
paralleling the paths of action, devotion, etc.,
there is a path called art
and that the sages of the East would recognize
Faulkner, Edward Hopper, Beethoven, William Carlos Williams
and address them as equals.
It’s a matter of intention and discipline, isn’t it? —
combined with a certain amount of God-given ability.
It’s what you’re willing to go through, willing to give, isn’t it?
It’s the willingness to be a window
through which others can see
all the way out to infinity
and all the way back to themselves.

You can find this poem in Albert Huffstickler’s excellent book of poems — Why I Write in Coffee Houses and Diners.

Albert Huffstickler (December 17, 1927 – February 25, 2002) was more than just an American poet—he was a voice woven into the fabric of Texas. Born in the Lone Star State and spending his later years in Austin, he became a vital part of the local poetry community, though his words resonated far beyond.

Over his lifetime, Huffstickler shared hundreds of poems, with his work appearing in chapbooks, academic publications, and underground journals alike.

You can check out a few other of Huffstickler’s poems here, here, and here.