half-and-half in poetry

half the trick to making art is
failing at everything else first
backing yourself so far into
the corner of unhireability
so that you have to pour
your whole life into art
whether you like it or not
then, after that, hoping
you are also lucky enough
to get to survive off it
I’m not saying you’ll be lucky enough
I’m not saying I’ll ever be lucky enough
but it’s the only thing to do
half the trick to making art is
tricking yourself out of half-measures
caution is the death of so many things
even if it keeps you alive
go art the hell out of it and
the risk is what makes it happen
if it will ever happen, of course