If all you need to ask, "Is beauty truth?"
It isn't much you need to know on earth.
It's less than what appraisers say it's worth,
This jar with frieze depicting frozen youth.
Curators and collectors both agree
If forged or stolen, sold dishonestly
Museum art debased on pedestals
Makes hiding art seem safely tenable.
It may be better beauty be destroyed.
A little worshiper of idols still
Resides inside and ever, always will
Until we're much less worldly employed.
While thirsty an ascetic often thinks
Urns beautiful when everybody drinks.
(8/29/22)
Categories:
appraisers, beauty,
Form: Sonnet
We are so drawn to the wreckage of lives,
Monuments to lessons learned,
That will never make sense,
Some learned the hard way,
Others as easy as falling on knives,
Or just fools playing with razors,
Simple child's play with dire consequence.
Of course it's better if you're not the one,
Responsibility spurned,
Though you're gasping for air,
As night conquers day,
Wondering, when will the ambulance come?
The Monday morning appraisers
Write new bylines pretending they care.
But then just when you think it's all over,
It's your child's fate handed down,
In this morning's headline!
You ask, 'Did I pray? '
But you're no longer rolling in clover.
Beholders crave a strange beauty,
Brief lives cut again by a deadline.
This story is told again and again,
It is the talk of the town,
Wisdom of skyscrapers,
There's nothing to say,
No one complains exploitation is sin,
Keeps presses rolling sad duty…
That's just what it takes to sell papers!
Brian Johnston
June 24,2014
See my poem 'How I write poetry' for an interesting view of my process in writing a poem and how this poem evolved with time and why.
Categories:
appraisers, death,
Form: Rhyme
Every word has been spoken
All evidences have been collated
The premises are known already
False witnesses are withdrawn long ago
Destructive critics cannot blow
See constructive appraisers long for your flow
Now what…
Ancestors are eagerly waiting
Waiting that you may use them for knowledge
…their glory, success and failures… for knowledge sake
Posterity are confusedly hoping
Hoping that you will arise and act
To unveil their ignorance, unravel their mysteries
To solve their puzzles and ignite their passion
…passion for excellence
But here you are…undecided!
Stand now to your responsibilities
No one will decide your vision
Where is your destiny…answer!
Frivolous men, nonchalanters abound our generation
We cannot say if you are not one…
Decide!
Categories:
appraisers, visionary
Form: Didactic