Very Much Not a Polemic

From polemos, war, a word

Of unknown origin, tough

To translate in the event,

Polemic, that is, not war

Of course. Every language knows

What war is, or they do now.

All art is political,

Goes one polemic, but not

All art is polemical.

Thus, approving reviewers

Write things like, political,

Yes, but not a polemic.

A polemic could reverse

That claim and say that all art

Is polemical, but not

All art is political.

In their heart of hearts, all arts

Argue disputatiously,

But not all carry a torch

For this or that argument

Wed to political force.

In their heart of hearts, all arts

Take exception to something,

But not all arts are party.