After enjoying the poem, "The Artist's Plight," I concluded that I should talk to its creator, Logan Clarke.
After talking to him, I discovered a story that will shock and delight you if you are an artist of any type and have struggled.
Clarke used to be a starving artist until he accidentally wrote a poem that made him famous around the world.
In 1978, he authored "The Artist's Plight," a brief poem that turned his life around because it had such a profound effect on people the world over.
It's my hope that by sharing his poem and the fascinating story behind it, you, too, will be inspired to follow your dreams.
The Artist's Plight
There are none more alone or lonely
Than those who strike out to be different
Those wandering souls obsessed with
chasing rainbows and dreaming dreams.
Going against the odds because of faith and belief
Faith in their talent-
Belief that they have something to offer
Accepting criticism, ridicule and often laughter
Only to continue to try to be
One of the few who succeed.
They are forever told to "give up, "grow up"
as they wait for even one
To give encouragement and understanding
Someone to holler "stick with it!"
They long for a reason that they have existed
Proof that they left a mark
No matter how small
On even a few lives that their lives have touched.
They are truly a different breed to society
During their struggle, they are "fools"
Once successful, they are "praised" and "accepted".
Never will there be a greater frustration
Nor a stronger need to be recognized
Than that of the life ---
of the Artist
An Astonishing Story of Success
When he penned "The Artist's Plight," Clarke was a down-and-out actor who could not break into Hollywood.
Ironically, although he had starred in 14 motion pictures in Asia and written a bestselling poetic novel called "Just Passing Through," Hollywood movie producers were not interested in his talents because he had not acted in American television.
After knocking back a few glasses of wine one night, he expressed his despair through a few poetic lines. His friend championed it, and had it printed and distributed. After this happened, his acting class decided to frame it on their wall. Then, after this point, it was sent to numerous other acting schools and friends circulated it to other friends.
But this was just the beginning...
A songwriter and singer called Kenny Coleman, who worked with the legendary Sinatra, discovered "The Artist's Plight" somehow, photocopied more than a hundred versions, and offered them to his nightclub show patrons. When he finally came out with his musical album, he printed the entire poem on the back of the cover, making sure Clarke got the credit. Then later still, during a conversation with the Regis Philbin on television, sometime in the 1970s, Coleman read the whole poem into the cameras aloud when he was asked to describe the life of an artist
Over the years, the poem has taken on a life of its own. It has been extensively distributed by influential people around the world. Clarke even received thank you cards from Cher, Maria Shriver, and George Burns. Additionally, several celebrities framed and hung it in their homes.
A short while ago, a world-prominent musical composer called George Michalski, who was recognized as a child protg at age twelve, found the poem and called Clarke. In order to meet him, the musician drove from San Francisco to Huntington Beach, a huge distance. He compared the poem to an anthem for the arts and came up with original music for it.
Today, 33 years later, "The Artists Plight" is now circulating across the Internet and touching a whole new generation of artists. There is a possibility that it will be narrated in the near future by Morgan Freeman, Lauren Bacall or Clint Eastwood.
After talking to him, I discovered a story that will shock and delight you if you are an artist of any type and have struggled.
Clarke used to be a starving artist until he accidentally wrote a poem that made him famous around the world.
In 1978, he authored "The Artist's Plight," a brief poem that turned his life around because it had such a profound effect on people the world over.
It's my hope that by sharing his poem and the fascinating story behind it, you, too, will be inspired to follow your dreams.
The Artist's Plight
There are none more alone or lonely
Than those who strike out to be different
Those wandering souls obsessed with
chasing rainbows and dreaming dreams.
Going against the odds because of faith and belief
Faith in their talent-
Belief that they have something to offer
Accepting criticism, ridicule and often laughter
Only to continue to try to be
One of the few who succeed.
They are forever told to "give up, "grow up"
as they wait for even one
To give encouragement and understanding
Someone to holler "stick with it!"
They long for a reason that they have existed
Proof that they left a mark
No matter how small
On even a few lives that their lives have touched.
They are truly a different breed to society
During their struggle, they are "fools"
Once successful, they are "praised" and "accepted".
Never will there be a greater frustration
Nor a stronger need to be recognized
Than that of the life ---
of the Artist
An Astonishing Story of Success
When he penned "The Artist's Plight," Clarke was a down-and-out actor who could not break into Hollywood.
Ironically, although he had starred in 14 motion pictures in Asia and written a bestselling poetic novel called "Just Passing Through," Hollywood movie producers were not interested in his talents because he had not acted in American television.
After knocking back a few glasses of wine one night, he expressed his despair through a few poetic lines. His friend championed it, and had it printed and distributed. After this happened, his acting class decided to frame it on their wall. Then, after this point, it was sent to numerous other acting schools and friends circulated it to other friends.
But this was just the beginning...
A songwriter and singer called Kenny Coleman, who worked with the legendary Sinatra, discovered "The Artist's Plight" somehow, photocopied more than a hundred versions, and offered them to his nightclub show patrons. When he finally came out with his musical album, he printed the entire poem on the back of the cover, making sure Clarke got the credit. Then later still, during a conversation with the Regis Philbin on television, sometime in the 1970s, Coleman read the whole poem into the cameras aloud when he was asked to describe the life of an artist
Over the years, the poem has taken on a life of its own. It has been extensively distributed by influential people around the world. Clarke even received thank you cards from Cher, Maria Shriver, and George Burns. Additionally, several celebrities framed and hung it in their homes.
A short while ago, a world-prominent musical composer called George Michalski, who was recognized as a child protg at age twelve, found the poem and called Clarke. In order to meet him, the musician drove from San Francisco to Huntington Beach, a huge distance. He compared the poem to an anthem for the arts and came up with original music for it.
Today, 33 years later, "The Artists Plight" is now circulating across the Internet and touching a whole new generation of artists. There is a possibility that it will be narrated in the near future by Morgan Freeman, Lauren Bacall or Clint Eastwood.
About the Author:
Saleem Rana, an online journalist, at saleemrana.com recommends that to learn more about Logan Clarke, you should stop by Amazon where you can find out all about his latest books.
