Hunger

In college I had a mentor
who said an actor is always hungry
and I think, perhaps, he meant
that an actor's life can be capricious
and meals to be indulged
because they could be few
but I also think he meant two things
when he said one
which he often did
for the gnawing tickle of hunger
can sharpen inspiration
make one more attuned to creation
force an alertness to the moment
so that it may open up to artistry
whereas, perhaps, the comfort
of a belly constantly full
breeds complacency
and dulls the edge of imagination,
I say perhaps because
Jack was never one for explanations.