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


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BEAUTY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Much bunk is sprung concerning beauty
Last Line: "warts."
Subject(s): Beauty; Desire; Virtue; Women


MUCH bunk is sprung concerning beauty, as something that won't keep; and writers

alecky, galooty, insist it's but skin deep. "Far better have a conscience
tender, that balks at sin and lies, than all the glamor and the splendor of
shining hair and eyes. Far better have a love of duty, a heart with virtue warm,

than win a ribbon blue for beauty, or have a queenly form." Why not have both,
good looks and virtue, clean teeth and sterling worth? The combination will not

hurt you, or raise unseemly mirth. It's good to send the heathen shekels, but
that's no reason why you ought to wear a lot of freckles, or have a squinting
eye. It's good to help our neighbors, always, but seek the barber, too; the
saint who doesn't trim his galways obstructs the fairest view. Good women may
convert the rowdy and rescue burning brands, but if the gowns they wear are
dowdy, the world indiff'rent stands. "Be clean within," exclaims the preacher;
the worldling vain retorts, "Desire to be a moral teacher is no excuse for
warts."





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