Truer than Truthem
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
Great is Beauty’s grace,
Truth is yet as fair as she. ~ Thomas Campion
High duty comes in just one color, white,
(Unless it the duty of a grudge).
Pure white is not the color of delight.
That white is not like neckwear on a judge.
That color is at best just bland like plain
Grits, or, like plain hominy. That black
Of grudging smells like vengeance. It’s disdain
Shot through with hatred, shining in shellac.
These colors cannot be as beautiful
As beauty, even if they stand for truth.
The truth is only plain, though dutiful.
Truth never comes as beautiful as youth
Doomed in perfection like a Montague.
There’s nothing quite that beautiful, that true.
~ Phillip Whidden