JFKPSA

The artist, however faithful to his
Personal vision of reality
Becomes the last champion of the
Individual mind and sensibility
Against an intrusive society and
An officious state he has, as Frost said
A lover's quarrel with the world
In pursuing his perceptions of reality
He must often sail against the
Currents of his time
This is not a popular role
Yet in retrospect, we see how the artist's
Fidelity has strengthened
The fibre of our national life
If sometimes our great artists have been
The most critical of our society
It is because their sensitivity
And their concern for justice
Which must motivate any true artist
Makes him aware that our Nation falls
Short of it's highest potential
I see little of more importance to
The future of our country and
Our civilization than full recognition of
The place of the artist
If art is to nourish the roots of our culture
Society must set the artist free to follow
His vision wherever it takes him
We must never forget that art is
Not a form of propaganda
It is a form of truth for poets
There is nothing worse for our trade
Than to be in style
In free society art is not
A weapon and it does
Not belong to the spheres
Of polemic and ideology
The highest duty of the writer, the composer
The artist is to remain true to himself
And to let the chips fall where they may

Hey let's have some fun this time