If beauty were such a thing
it would reign supreme
it would be bottled
in expensive lotions and
sold as the only thing
worth consideringThat’s how I feel
Oh! What was I thinking?Society already does that!
We’re bombarded by images
Made to worship at beauty’s altar
Enticed to spend on enhancements
-convinced that happiness
is found in what you can seewith increasing pressure to
be as beautiful as we can beThe youth fall for this easily
Their worth measured in
flawless skin, slim physiques
and Bekkie good hair
Don’t get me started on social media!
If the world doesn’t collectivelyclick ‘like’ on their instagram posts
they’re unable to function effectivelyNot so-I hope-for we of older years
we’ve been there and done that
and escaped the deception of youth
It should be obvious with
all the ugliness in the world
that those things that last -love & hopeare what matter as inner beauty glows
-while we navigate life’s slippery slope
©Vivian Zems
The A L’ Arora, a form created by Laura Lamarca consists of eight lined stanzas. The rhyme scheme is a, b, c, d, e, f, g, f with no syllable count per line and the minimum length for the poem is 4 stanzas with no maximum length stipulation.
April 8, 2018 at 2:46 pm
Beautifully penned 👌
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April 8, 2018 at 3:38 pm
Thanks Shayra!
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April 8, 2018 at 6:47 pm
Welcome 😊
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April 8, 2018 at 6:47 pm
😊
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April 8, 2018 at 2:58 pm
This is incredibly potent!💜 Beauty is sadly misread these days by people from around the world and yes “We’re bombarded by images” as you wisely state. If only they could look past and appreciate for what beauty truly is! Thank you so much for participating.💜
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April 8, 2018 at 3:38 pm
Thanks Sanaa, I loved the prompt and thanks for commenting 😊
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April 8, 2018 at 5:39 pm
I loved it, Vivian ! You have perfectly described the times we live in. Outside beauty has become the selling point.
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April 8, 2018 at 6:43 pm
Absolutely!
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April 8, 2018 at 6:43 pm
Thank you 😊
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April 8, 2018 at 5:56 pm
I feel that those people, who have focused solely on the face they show to the world, being on trend, socializing meaninglessly, are the architects of their own self-destruction. And sadly, I think they know it too but fall prey to group mentality. It’s a shame.
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April 8, 2018 at 6:42 pm
A big shame indeed . Thanks Kerry.
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April 8, 2018 at 6:06 pm
Truth. Bravo for acing the form.
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April 8, 2018 at 6:42 pm
Thanks Sherry😊
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April 8, 2018 at 6:37 pm
I wonder why women feel they must paint their faces to look beautiful. The cosmetics industry and the fashion industry certainly has had its points gained for making outer beauty the preferred beauty. An excellent write Vivian. I have never been one to wear makeup.
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April 8, 2018 at 6:41 pm
Thanks, Toni – I wonder the same. It’s all about the money.
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April 8, 2018 at 8:30 pm
No more navigating life’s slippery slope for me – I was never one for that anyway. Barefoot and mirror-less – except for on Indian clothes – I used to love cheesecloth and velvet smocks with those little mirrors on. No make up and a little bottle of essential oil. No mobile phones, no Internet, but I was happy.
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April 8, 2018 at 8:31 pm
Bliss!😌
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April 8, 2018 at 8:42 pm
Sadly many see the world through this lens. There is so much more to life.
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April 9, 2018 at 10:53 am
Sigh…. indeed.
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April 8, 2018 at 9:38 pm
Your words ring so true, it’s difficult for young women to ignore the media as they are so bombarded with propaganda. Well done on the form, I found it a huge challenge 🙂
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April 9, 2018 at 10:51 am
Thank you 😊.
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April 8, 2018 at 11:14 pm
This is an excellent poem Vivian. The concept of ‘flawless’ is very subjective isn’t it. I do agree we live in a world that requires instant gratification, a world where so amny people use social media as a standard determining their worth. You are right we of advanced years have ‘moved on’ so to speak and our beauty is but an inner glow…
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April 9, 2018 at 10:44 am
Thanks Michael…it’s a different world emerging.
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April 8, 2018 at 11:29 pm
Cool! I like how you bring such a contemporary edge to this form.
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April 9, 2018 at 10:43 am
Thanks Marilyn!
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April 9, 2018 at 5:47 am
Really nice, Vivian. Both in the writing to the form and the writing regardless of the form. Nice topic too, that was nice. I like that you finished up with us oldies knowing what is right.
..
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April 9, 2018 at 10:42 am
Thanks Jim! Us oldies always know better
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April 9, 2018 at 8:18 am
I wouldnlt argue with a word!
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April 9, 2018 at 10:39 am
Thanks Rosemary 😊
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April 9, 2018 at 5:41 pm
I finally get this and also realize how near impossible it is to teach this wisdom- it seemly must be learned (alas usually too late)
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April 9, 2018 at 5:44 pm
Always too late 😯
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April 9, 2018 at 8:55 pm
Thank God we’ve aged! Or have we? ☺❤
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April 10, 2018 at 6:36 pm
I don’t mind that- at all!
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