Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AFFECTATION, by WALT MASON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AFFECTATION, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The men of simple manners please; they
Last Line: Blamed ridiculous you are!
Subject(s): Etiquette; Men; Pride; Manners; Courtesy; Self-esteem; Self-respect


THE men of simple manners please; they boast not of their pedigrees, or look
profound, or put on side, or get swelled up with futile pride. The wise man's
every action states, "I'm just like other mortal skates; I'm here a while to
toil and spin, and try to get my harvest in, and when I leave this vale of
groans, like Tom and Dick, I'll make dry bones." It gives me stitches in the
side to see a man swelled up with pride, assuming divers foolish airs, and who,

in every act, declares, "The clay I'm made of is so fine, there wasn't any more

like mine. I was formed, one fateful day, the Maker threw the mold away, and
said, 'Improvements now shall cease—I have produced the masterpiece!'" When

your importance seems so steep that all the rest of us look cheap, laugh at
yourself a while, my friend, and let your affectation end. Sit down in silence
and review the foolish things you say and do, and realize, with many a jar, how

blamed ridiculous you are!





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