Beauty's Plight

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Indeed, beauty is sweet and tasty

Like the lily by the waters

That the little damsel plucked 

And pinned in her auburn hair.

But she grew tired of her captive

As soon as she spotted the rose


That blossomed by the walkway.

Off came the lily out of her silky setting

Into the nearby stenchy sewage

Then smiled the rose and sat

On the wench’s auburn hair 

Enjoying her ladyship whiles it lasted.


Sons of Adam are as the damsel.

Daughters of Eve are as the lily.

Oh, son of Adam! why do you pluck

A white lily when you need a red rose?

You smell, you touch and you taste

Only to spit out into the stenchy sewage.


Very soon there will be no more lilies

Still bright, white and innocent.

Only roses shall remain, ready to sting

With their poisonous thorns

When at last they sure must fall into

The dark stenchy sewage of forgetfulness.

And blame it on the damsel, we will,

The unending plight of beauty.

*****************************************************************

By Oparebea Maafo






Location: Akuse, Ghana

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