Beauty Sat Upon the Bridge
Beauty sat upon the bridge
Eyeing the sun-drenched sweat
Of ugliness
Unaware of his own beauty
His charm
His humility
His charisma
But very aware of the cruelty
That ugliness manifested before him
Why my friend do you behave
In such a way?
What have these people done to you?
Don’t speak to me
You have beauty and I despise you for it
You have everything
I have nothing
I think you are wrong my friend
Don’t patronise me you arrogant god!
I'm not. I'm just thinking that our
Outward form is of no consequence
It is merely the outer shell
Outer shells crack
Whatever their substance and form.
But the heart, my friend, now there
Is another matter.
What are you talking about?
I'm just thinking of something
Said an age ago
He does not see as man sees
He does not look at the outward form
He looks at the heart within
And sees the inner beauty
Or maybe notes it absence.
The spectre crashed away in a temper
But around the corner and out of sight
Glanced back at Beauty
And indeed saw that the heart
Too was beautiful
And suddenly the ugliness fell from him
As his own heart changed in an instant
11 July 2023
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© Kenneth Thomas Webb 2023