I was eight years old
A nurse for a neighbour
She came to me
Can you do me a favour?
Watch Art while I step out a while?

A shell of a man
Without any feelings
He just lied there
Starring at the ceiling
Not sure why I had to watch a man who couldn’t smile

Oh Art, who are you?
Where’d you come from?
Do you even know I’m here?
Is your body numb?
So motionless
Are you deaf and dumb?
Oh Art how’d you end up here?

A curious boy
I explored around
Captivated
With what I found
Journals with words I’ve never seen before

Captain’s logs
Journeys around the world
All hand written
Beautiful curves and swirls
Each page leaving you wanting to see more

Oh Art, who are you?
Where’d you come from?
Do you even know I’m here?
Is your body numb?
So motionless
Are you deaf and dumb?
Oh Art how’d you end up here?

He was a Captain of a ship
A leader of men
His daily journals
Written with a feathered pen
Considered a genius by all that knew him

Eight years old
A lesson I’d never forget
Taught by a man
Lying silent in bed
A man I judged by the shape I found him in

Never again would I disrespect
This shell of a man
Once the leader of men
Oh Art, I’m sorry you ended up here