Beauty Even So

Vallotton

BEAUTY EVEN SO

Strange that beauty can be found in the ugliest situations!

Here the artist is depicting the worst of conflagrations.

'Verdun' he called his painting, alluding to the battle 

In which so many brave young men were slaughtered just like cattle.

This all took place before my time but this wonderful depiction

Brought back to me old memories of a grave, more recent, friction.

I was a child of the Second World War, so searchlights were all around;

They criss-crossed skies that were humming with planes; a haunting evil sound.

But I remember their beauty, against dark velvet skies;

The spot where they intersected was always a great surprise.

Sometimes we'd see a tiny plane caught in that neat criss-cross

Like a fly in a spider's web as it made its way across

To Birmingham or Sheffield  or some other target city.

I don't think I thought of the pilot; I didn't feel any pity.

To my childish eyes it was just a display, something worth looking at.

I didn't think of a brave young man about to knock a city flat.

It all occurred so long ago; there are scarcely any traces

But I still remember how beauty was found in some very unlovely places.

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TENTATIVE  

If I were meant

To live in a tent

My head would be pointed that way,

My feet would splay out

Without any doubt

In a truly remarkable splay!

Consider the small garden snail,

Nobody who sees it could fail

To see it's designed

With camping in mind

For it even has room for a tail!

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If I were meant

To live in a tent

I'd be a triangular  shape!

My body would be

An upsidedown 'V'

And I'd aways be dressed in a cape!

The turtle and tortoise as well

Are exactly the shape for a shell,

So, if I were meant

To live in a tent

Everyone would be able to tell!

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