What am I?

by Kaelin Regoulinsky

I wield a paintbrush as my only weapon

and my paints are a mighty army,

I express happiness in every shape

and joy in every shade,

I etch sadness into every line

and caress sorrow into every stroke,

I hide behind a canvas

and am assumed a weak and pitiful coward,

I hold power at my fingertips

to create, to mold, to paint,

I hold power in my eyes

to see what no one else can see

and envision what no one else can envision,

I hold power in my emotions

to experience what no one else can experience

and to tell a unforgettable story,

I hold power in my mind

to go through the darkest storms

and the deepest valleys

and create something beautiful out of it,

I sculpt imperfection in every detail

and see perfection in every piece of art,

What

am

I?