Paradox
The beautiful young scholar here today
Is suffering from a cold. He has to stop
And wipe his nose and sniffles to allay
The itching, slimy, irritating drop,
Drip, drop of mucus. Strong but fragile there
Behind his books and laptop, he prepares
His notes. His beard is not quite thick, but fair,
And so it seems like accidental hairs
And not a proper manly thing. This fits
In well with his vulnerability.
He studies medicine there where he sits
And nurses masculine fragility.
The resonance created by this blend
Of strong and weak gives much to recommend.