waiting for the cream

coffee spot posted by Char Jones

 

Pity the Beautiful
by Dana Gioia

Pity the beautiful,
the dolls, and the dishes,
the babes with big daddies
granting their wishes.

Pity the pretty boys,
the hunks, and Apollos,
the golden lads whom
success always follows.

The hotties, the knock-outs,
the tens out of ten,
the drop-dead gorgeous,
the great leading men.

Pity the faded,
the bloated, the blowsy,
the paunchy Adonis
whose luck’s gone lousy.

Pity the gods,
no longer divine.
Pity the night
the stars lose their shine.

“Pity the Beautiful” by Dana Gioia from 99 Poems: New and Selected. © Graywolf Press, 2016.

The Day After Christmas

What follows a Day of Glory?

diapers, water, food
dishes, donkeys, droppings, clothes
earthling’s comfort needs