No Hypocrisy or Self-deceiving in
Esthetics
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
When Jesus speaks, the monasteries chant
And convents count their beads. On Georgia’s roads
His words are turned to slogans. Preachers rant
On radios. They blare in hellfire codes.
When Buddha speaks, the nuns put on their robes
And shop for vegetables but not for flashed
Eternity. A temple abbot probes
Scrolled texts, but gold satori feels abashed.
The emperor philosopher counts “wise”
To be accepting of one’s lot in life
While being just and kind. Most others prize
Strong struggles, striving, manful strains, and strife.
..But beauty knows no lying. It is true
….Or not. For it just reverence is due.
~ Phillip Whidden