The laws of Beauty and its patterns Must all conform to blood and race; A nose that's tilted, round and small, Is not for any Jewish face. To say that she is tall and plump Would be a blemish in Japan; A foot coercion makes no smaller Would never please a Chinaman. To say her skin's as white as foam, With sea-blue eyes, so soft and mellow, Would please no race whose beauties must, Like all their gods, be brown or yellow. But let these laws be what they will, And differ with our blood and race; Come, fair or dark; come, white or brown — Where shall I find a sweeter face? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MAPLE AND SUMACH by CECIL DAY LEWIS PASSING BY by THOMAS FORD (1580-1648) AN UNINSCRIBED MONUMENT - BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS by HERMAN MELVILLE THE TWO VOICES by ALFRED TENNYSON MONA LISA by JOHN KENDRICK BANGS |