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Notes About The Poem

This was my poem for a sponsor who blogged, asking for all articles (definite and indefinite) to be removed from the minimalist poems he wanted entered in his contest. I did as asked, and ended up turning in a poem that looked like the one here in my notes because the words in each line needed to be very sparse. Now that the contest is judged and I was N/A'd, I can change my poem's title and improve it with a few added words, and rename it the way I want to (curiously, only 2 of his 10 winners submitted entries not using articles.) I will use parentheses around words I had removed from my original poem before editing it to fit the contest requirements.

(He has) nothing to be desired
on (the) outside
where homeliness resides
then he smiles (wide)
his words (dropped) are pearls
beauty shines from within

What Shines From Within

(my new version)

He bears little to be desired
on the outside;
His homeliness is a false facade.
Then a smile lights his face.
He speaks, and the words he drops are pearls.
We see his beauty come shining forth.

beautyhumanitysmilefree verse

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Howard Kerr

September 25, 2026 at 11:21 PM

A thought-provoking, philosophical write with a neat twist. This poem is an eternal gem.🔥⭐✨🌙 Many thanks for your review of Auntie’s etc which I find encouraging, Andrea H

Line Gauthier

September 28, 2025 at 6:43 PM

beauty within is definitely what counts ~ you got that right !!

CayCay Godwin

September 27, 2025 at 1:28 PM

By edited do you mean an older write, revised? I've read it 4 times and each time more meaning dawns. Probably what he's looking for. LOVE CayCay

Andrea Dietrich

September 27, 2025 at 2:23 PM

I had to remove an article as he requested of us at his blog and I made an important even shorter. I preferred my first version because the meaning was clearer.