FINDING BEAUTY

On a dare, I went in search of Beauty
thinking it would be enough
just to catch a glimpse of her.
I looked in all the obvious places,
the streets and cafes,
in the parks and by the river,
then I tried the usual spots,
the theatres, museums and cinemas,
but I searched in vain.
This goddess knew how to hide herself.

Then I remembered a poet had once said
that Beauty and Truth were one and the same,
but I’d never believed him.
At this point I had nothing to lose,
so I went to look for Truth.
He was almost as elusive as she was,
but I managed to locate him
in a bar in the West Village.
He was nicely dressed,
but I wouldn’t call him a beauty,
and he was none too friendly.
After a few shots he warmed up to me
and with a little coaxing
I managed to get her address.