The perfect swan upon the perfect lake Doubles its heaven in a single look. * * * No wise man can distinguish whore from prude When they're wrapped in the common colors of their pride. * * * Some mask with courage, some with fear; The rich wear power as a beast its fur. * * * The man of conscience or the man of sin -- All shadows take their color from the sun. * * * Who builds his freedom on another's life Must start and tremble when his subjects laugh. * * * When queens of love proclaim their discontent, The courts of lust shall judge the innocent. Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368-0271, www.cc.press.org | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...POOR MAILIE'S ELEGY by ROBERT BURNS THE JOYS OF THE ROAD by BLISS CARMAN EPIGRAM: PERJURY by ROBERT NUGENT ON A PIECE OF TAPESTRY by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE CENTAURS by JAMES STEPHENS WE ARE SEVEN by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH |