Posted on Saturday, 5 May 2007
1.
Behold the quintessential half-blind fool
Who thinks love's ardor bows to fortune's hand,
And reckons value by bespoken rule
Of social grace and arch familial strand.
No consequence does comely lass receive,
As cold conceit love's true temptation spurns.
Presumptuous haughty manners naught achieve
As heartless phrase in beauty's bosom burns.
Though pedigree may bind begrudged respect,
Intemperate love unravels tight-knit rope.
True bonds grow deep in faithful hearts unchecked
By pride but mantled in translucent hope.
Good fortune may indeed misfortune bring
When arrogance disdains love's offering.
2.
Demeaning slights, quite deep and keenly felt,
Can conjure thoughts that best are left unsaid,
And rumination raises stinging welt
As reason shrinks and bias grows well-fed.
An eager willingness to read the worst
In adversary's nod or word or glance
Makes plain to all that hidden hurts are nursed
And views are clouded by traumatic trance.
Yet awkward facts judiciously supply
Fresh proof that hasty views are counterfeit.
Then wrongly held assertions go awry,
And ignorance is cut by sharpened wit.
At last one knows oneself and may embrace
True sketch of all, and all false prints erase.