Esthetic as Emetic

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem 

In general the tasteless in the land

(And all lands) much prefer the sheen of gloss,

The slickness and the gildedness, the grand

And overblown and not the dew on moss,

Kyoto gardens’ green stones by a stream.

Japan is like this, as are other parts

Of Asia and like ancient Greeks they scream

Loud colors in their temples’ sacred hearts.

Chinese prefer embroidered shiny silk,

The Greeks the sleekness of their symmetry

In white of marble, whiter than mere milk,

But ruin it with colors, dim-metry.

  The Romans, roughness, rudenss ruined all

    Enough to make a tasteful man’s flesh crawl.

~ Phillip Whidden