Distortions of the Lovely in Ancient Greece
The beautiful in ancient times could see
Themselves less perfectly than we can view
Ourselves. A pond might give a good degree
Of truth in its reflection, even blue
Of eye and undistorted skin and shape,
But other mirrors made of metals, rock,
And glass back then might make the truth escape.
Discoloration and swellings might mock
The facts. So Helen almost never saw
(Or seldom saw) how beautiful she looked
To men. She never felt melodic awe.
It never rhymed for her why they were hooked,
Achilles never really saw his face
The way it made Patroclus’ heartbeats race.