Things as they are

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A bit of a departure today.  Here's a very short extract from a longish poem by Wallace Stevens based on a painting by Pablo Picasso.  It's called “The Man with the Blue Guitar.” 

You can read more of the poem here, but I think this excerpt contains an extraordinarily profound and succinct definition of art. 

They said,

“You have a blue guitar,

You do not play things as they are.”

      The man replied,

      “Things as they are

      Are changed upon the blue guitar.”