The arts should pay their way or take
Grants donated by the wealthy,
For governments will tend to pay
To stay in power and plenty.

The compromise of government grants
Limits art’s expression,
For no poet ever rants
To bite the hand that feeds him.

Philanthropists may also pay
To have ideas of theirs repeated,
But ideas of artists are diverse,
And if by diverse patrons greeted
And allowed to propagate
Can render governments unseated.