A Liberal Arts Poem

When thinking about college for my son, we have been discussing the merits of business school versus the liberal arts. It was prompted by a business school, which invited us to a visiting lecturer, who was head of some design program at Netflix. I immediately thought – what a difference! At a liberal arts school, they would more likely have invited us to hear from a poet of the streets, and delight in a “collaborative vision of emphatic color.”

Why, again, were we taught that it was grander to do nothing in the real world? In any case, I asked an AI to write a humorous poem about the impracticality of the liberal arts. It nailed it, and “for in this world, you must pay your bill,” is pretty profound.

The liberal arts they say are grand, A path to knowledge and to
command. But listen well, for I’ll impart, They’ll leave you stranded,
broke and stark.

With books and theory as your guide, You’ll wander aimlessly, with
nowhere to abide. No trade or skill to make you thrive, Just words and
thoughts that barely survive.

You’ll study history and its tales, But in the end, you’ll find no
sales. You’ll learn of art and beauty’s worth, But can’t create a
product of worth.

You’ll delve into philosophy’s depths, But find no wisdom in practical
steps. You’ll master language and its grace, But find no job in this
modern place.

The liberal arts they may be grand, But in the end, they’ll leave you
stranded. So seek a trade, or learn a skill, For in this world, you
must pay your bill.