Human/Pose

Human/Pose

There is no such thing as ‘handsome’ or ‘beautiful’ – beauty is just a pose. To be worn; it doesn’t last long. It’s just a countenance. We can all be ugly; we can all look ugly. We can all develop a paler aspect. The blood drains.

Try telling James, 27, the Calvin Klein model, who got cancer of the throat in August: half of it was removed. He’s now almost mute and sounds like a gurgle of water. The mirror is now a vexation. He’s thinking of moving onto razor blades….

We’re all human. They’re all human. It’s just a pose: Never forget that. And we can all pose. Beauty is a fleeting little bird that flits its wings and then keeps on flying – but sooner or later it must land and fold its wings back into the wellspring.

And now a poem...

There is no such thing as ‘handsome’ or ‘beautiful’ –

beauty is just a pose.

To be worn; it doesn’t last long.

It’s just a countenance.

We can all be ugly;

we can all look ugly.

We can all develop

a paler aspect.

The blood drains.

Try telling James, 27,

the Calvin Klein model,

who got cancer of the throat

in August:

half of it was removed.

He’s now almost mute

and sounds like

a gurgle of water.

We’re all human.

They’re all human.

It’s just a pose:

Never forget that.

And we can all pose.

Beauty is a fleeting little bird

that flits its wings and then keeps on flying –

but sooner or later it must land

and fold its wings back 
into

the wellspring.