Substance and Style

(A Song)

Substance and style!

Please give me

Substance and style.

Where would we be without

Substance and style?

What a great goal!

It's something that I'll

Strive to achieve--

I hope without guile.

I'll even walk

That extra mile

For a balance of substance and style!

 

Substance without style

Falls flat on the spot.

It's colorless and lifeless,

And it happens a lot.

You can observe it

In all types of art.

The critics just love

To tear it apart.

Substance without style

Numbs the senses;

It's one of art's

Major offenses.

It's plodding, vapid,

Shoddy and cheap.

AND what's more,

It puts you to sleep.

 

(Refrain)

Substance and style….

 

Style without substance

Suggests that there's flair,

But since there's no substance,

There's not much else there.

It's sequins and fluff--

A simple façade.

Its raison d'être

Is just to defraud.

Style without substance

Bores us as well.

Pretentious and phony,

It sounds the death knell.

Artists beware:

Stay out of the trap.

And don't come crying

If your work is crap.

 

(Refrain)

Substance and style….

 

Substance and style,

When balanced correctly

With grace and finesse

And circumspectly,

Will give your creation

The oomph it should need

To capture your audience.

Therefore, take heed.

Substance and style

Should stimulate the brain,

Titillate the senses,

And, yes, entertain.

Let's hope we encounter

At least once in a while

A work that has

Substance and style!

 

(Refrain)

Substance and style….

(11-24-14)