Arlene Corwin Poetry

  I was thinking about today’s trends, fascinated, amused and you might say, sociologically  interested.  As I write, they seem to be beards, moustaches, shaven heads, tattoos, veganism, longer skirts, and if I’ve left out anything (which I’m sure I have) let me know.
 There are such things - as in the case of the pointed shoe, things which I will always find bewildering (the pointed shoe deforming the foot in the long run); other areas and other items I cannot think of at the moment, but which, like the pointed shoe seem downright inconsiderate. 
 Remember the corset of the 1800’s (1700 hundreds?)where women could not breathe, men and women’s wigs where insects crawled,  the empire neckline on gauze-like, breast-wetted gowns where women died from pneumonia?   
 I really should entitle this poem simply Trends.

    The Men In Sweden…

The men in Sweden and elsewhere
Are looking older than they are
With whiskers, stubble, facial hair
Of every kind.
Beards, moustaches find their place
On almost every male face these days.
I’ve bet you’ve never heard
Of pogonophobia. A funny word
That means a fear of beards and beard!
There are such mental health conditions.
So I ask, why hide the manly jaw or chin.
A chin that’s manly out and in.
I fancy ego’s based on fear,
Vanity that’s always there.
Affectation, ostentation, airs and show –
All the traits that go along
With fear of judgment and rejection.
Don’t they know it’s all illusion,
And the only thing that matters
Is completion of the heart and mind that shatters all?
Finding out who, what you are
And working to complete it.
If you’re twenty-one or two, what can beat it?
If you’ve got a double, triple chin or none,
An open face is wonderfully
To be preferred.
Lose the beard
And keep the face!
You are a much loved member of the race.
A naked face is best to kiss!
What person would not favour this?
Shaved and clean is what I mean!
I mean a face that’s smooth and clean.
Dear men, don’t hide the face inside.
Nature’s pride is there to share
With those who at the moment stare
And wish that there was someone daring;
One to face the world un-twirled, un-curled,
And wholly, perfectly unfurled.
The Men In Sweden 9.8.2018 A Sense Of The Ridiculous II; Circling Round Vanities II; Our Times, Our Culture II; Arlene Nover Corwin