THE musty old maxim is wise, Although with antiquity hoary; What an excellent homily lies In the motto, Ne crede colori! A blustering minion of Mars Is vaunting his battles so gory; You see some equivocal scars, And mutter, Ne crede colori! A fellow solicits your tin By telling a runaway story; You look at his ebony skin, And think of, Ne crede colori! You gaze upon beauty that vies With the rose and the lily in glory, But certain "inscrutable dyes" Remind you, Ne crede colori! There's possibly health in the flush That rivals the red of Aurora; But brandy-and-water can blush, And whisper, Ne crede colori! My story is presently done, Like the ballad of good Mother Morey But all imposition to shun, Remember, Ne crede colori! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RUBAIYAT, 1879 EDITION: 27 by OMAR KHAYYAM SONG: TO CELIA by PHILOSTRATUS THE DYING CHRISTIAN TO HIS SOUL by PUBLIUS AELIUS HADRIANUS LOVE-LILY by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI THE VANISHERS by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER |