PACIFIC ROSE

Elegance is when the inside is as beautiful as the outside

What I knew of beauty

is not what people place

in cover magazine.

Nor the one with honey comb ringlets,

or fair sun kiss locks  

of tender corn silk thread,

pried of its emerald husk.

What I knew of beauty

is not the kind with high rise snout,

or blue sapphire eyes, cupid bow pout

of voluptuous indulgence.

Don scantily clad apparel

in provocative display of vital statistics.

What I knew of beauty

is someone who doesn't drape 

one's intimates with skimpy lycra patches.

Baring it all to the heart's content

of azure sky perverted summer eye.

What I knew of beauty

is one that wouldn't stare you

straight in the face

and invade your personal space.

Unassumingly and not overbearingly

assert one's prerogatives.

What I knew of beauty

is whose crimson satin petal cheeks

doesn't writhe over spilled milk,

nor roll its iris behind

ebony bristled pistil

in capricious season of change.

Its sweet fruity fragrance isn't slack

of humorous comportment.

What I knew of beauty

is not Scarlett O'Hara's impetuous proclivity

but whose modest forbearance

exemplified in meager times of decorous

simplicity and extended fortitude.

For the kind of winsome flower I knew

isn't home to cool, drizzly, lofty landscape 

but can serenely thrive in arid concrete cracks

or humid shores of the Pacific.

Yet virtuously rival the elegant beauty,

the pompous aristocratic etiquette, 

of meticulously tendered,

delicately pampered England Rose ...

by NeiL ArandA  12/10/2015

Author's Note

England Rose - a high fragrance breed of roses with short live floral vase life.
Scarlett O'Hara - is a character and the protagonist in Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind.

Thoughts and words inspired by Gabrielle

Reviews

[Ken e Bujold]

Just happened to stumble across your work Neil and decided to read Pacific Rose. An outstanding poem, sharp images and impeccable scanning. Before my review I wandered down to read some other reviews due to age of the poem. Which led me to really want to review and post my thoughts.
I am married to a Woman from the other side of the world, Singapore. We were introduced through a mutual friend, and colleague who we both happened to have worked with in different parts of the world. We have been together for 22 yrs, married for 15. In our case, opposite did attract, with both of us working hard to make a 3rd way out of two very different cultures and upbringings. Hasn't always been easy, but I wouldn't trade my Pacific Rose for all or any Daisy anywhere else in this world.
I can also say, I understand the view shared in some reviews and posts about whether many of the relationships are born of a physical attraction sprung from an overly imaginative eroticism of that part of the world. I have seen more than my share of failed relationships, flings, marriages, due to neither party being prepared for the hurdles that lie ahead. One of the worst examples is a guy I knew who made the dumbest mistake any man could, he thought a Singaporean woman would be akin to a concubine. Not sure if he's recovered his balls yet or not.
Anyhow, again, thanks for the great read.

Ken e

[NeiL ArandA]

Ken, thank you for showing interest on this piece. I took a long break from writing poetry and pursued other interest for the time being but a poet will always be a poet.

What you are saying is a sensitive topic but I am glad you see a deep value on inner beauty and those who value commitments and long term relationships. I will check out your poems sometime. Its good to know you here. bye for now

[Lyn Anderson]

What a gorgeous, expansive, romantic, and deep piece. Lovely, just lovely. (One minor correction, use drape instead of drapes in this instance). The rest, flows beautifully.

[NeiL ArandA]

Thanks KLG, as always I do appreciate your Columnist and Editorial abilities and experience. I will make an adjustment. Thanks once again my sweet friend. You have brightened my day today. Will drop by in your tree ...

[Dhaye]

Honestly, I want to say, the whole piece only describes the personal preferences of the speaker when looking to whatever/whoever called as "beautiful". That only strengthens my belief of the sayings/quotes "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and "don't judge the book by its cover". lol

We have different beliefs and opinions. Nothing is wrong about someone's opinion even if it is different from the others. Yet, I want to share to you my opinion about beauty...


There is no perfect beauty in this world
Only God possesses such perfection
A beautiful face yet with a chubby body
Could not be good for you but better for me

An ugly face yet with an hourglass-shaped figure
Could be enough for someone who likes someone for display
An ugly face with a barrel-shaped body
To someone who doesn't look at the physical aspects, could still look sexy

If we have our own eyes to look for what we need
Then we don't have something to prove of what is beautiful for us
Because you have your own heart's eyes that see
And own mind that tells your own meaning of "beauty"


BTW, I like your use of creative literary phrases. You always take effort on your pieces, Neil. Good job!

[NeiL ArandA]

Well express take Dhaye. I'm enamored by the way this piece is provoking and influencing you to arrive on this take. Does our perception directly or indirectly by our environment or we totally derived our conclusions deep within our own personal convictions. Indeed two separate eyes can look at the same object and described a different perception. Perhaps its the way we are uniquely wired ? Thanks for stopping by.

[gabrielle]

I like the thoughts in this piece. It show that not all person falls for the standard of beauty set by the media. And it makes me think that the poetic persona has conservative outlook.

Perhaps, in this society where shrinking waistline and large breast are the new standards of beauty, a person who may not have those qualities but possesses the substance or inner beauty may standout. Nonetheless, how we dress (skimpy or covered), how we deal with others (shy or bold) or our appearance (natural or with heavy make up and/or cosmetic surgery) do not necessarily or completely define a person. We may don the most conservative clothes or be demure as the saints but deep inside we may have dark intentions.

If i were a guy, i would, however, prefer a lady who could look to me straight in the eye. "Nor roll its iris behind ebony bristled pistil" .. quite intriguing line. Rolling its iris may mean extreme pleasure or extreme disgust. Although the meaning may not be pleasant, i find this phrase to be so creative "xxx azure sky perverted summer eye"

Beautiful thoughts, neil.

[NeiL ArandA]

I think its extreme disgust Gab if you prefer to put it that way. There's a growing trend of foreigners marrying women from another place and culture through fiance visa. What intrigues me is why there's a growing trends in such out of the international border soulmate searching. It defies the conventional notion or logic of matching our likes and dislike and compatibility given someones totally different upbringing, ways, culture, values and traditions. Is it opposite attracts or there's something more there than meets the eye. Thanks for pondering this piece Gab.