Interpreting Life’s Artistry Without Originality

[additional-authors]

Gershon Hepner

November 29, 2020

Photo by blackred/Getty Images

Of life’s artistry interpreters, we find originality
a commodity that’s very rare.
Artfully we all try to fine-tune without finality
great melodies already in the air.

Sting (Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, born 2 October 1951) interviewed by Charlie Rose on 10/9/13, told him that his music is greatly influenced by Richard Rodgers. Charlie Rose responded: “If an artist is going to steal from someone should steal from someone who is great.” To this, Sting responded:
Artists are interpreters. Originality is a commodity that’s rare.

This poem is a dedication to Jonathan Fong for the artistry of the editing. — Gershon Hepner

Gershon Hepner is a poet who has written over 25,000 poems on subjects ranging from music to literature, politics to Torah. He grew up in England and moved to Los Angeles in 1976. Using his varied interests and experiences, he has authored dozens of papers in medical and academic journals, and authored “Legal Friction: Law, Narrative, and Identity Politics in Biblical Israel.” He can be reached at gershonhepner@gmail.com.