Barked Once

A picture of John Butler—in ink, pencil, graphite & gel pen.

“When I was 12 I wanted to be a real man: an old man with a beard, sitting at a table with a huge book full of wisdom. And what did society hold up to me for my admiration? A golfer, a boxer, a man who ran quickly, a soldier, a lawyer, a tycoon, a motorist, a pop star, a footballer. Into what kind of madhouse had I been born? And what have I become? A child, witlessly pouring out whatever enters my head. I am a madman and people gather to watch me make a fool of myself. I am not a role model. This is my protection and my security. I still long for the table and the book. The smell of an old man and an old book. The afternoon light fading.”

Ivor Cutler — ‘A Real Man’.