A man told me today that his theory was
you can’t teach creativity
I said I disagreed
Then further explained that creativity is something
conditioned out of you
I have taught children art
I really enjoyed it
I teach them to trust their own heart…
That sounds like Philosophy! He announced.
Yes, it most definitely is! I replied
He said, how do you feel now that
a.i. can just do all this, instead of you?
I replied, a.i. can’t do this!

I had a different conversation this evening
As the soupy air finally began to cool
about what it is that makes art beautiful
and if the artist puts some quantifiable
Juju
I said yeah,
the juju is Love
you can absolutely feel the
the degree of tender
embedded emotion
the artist has.

The work, whether food or
comedy or opera
is charged with intention, 
with attention,
with appreciation 
with Love
Through that work, you can be the receiver
of a drenching in the artist’s intention.

Granted, your abilty to receive that experience
can be opened,
In the same way that creativity can,
very slowly wider
And in the same way your ability to hear it see it taste it touch it can open
it can be learned
like it was once forgotten

You just listen to your heart
Your heart knows
listen, listen for the moment
when you feel something 
It will (if it’s good work)
pop you open
it will carry you away
it may reach into your insides
and massage them uncomfortably