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From: norm@mtgzy.UUCP (n.e.andrews)
Newsgroups: net.poems
Subject: Re: WHERE DID THEY GO??
Message-ID: <2014@mtgzy.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Sep-86 23:48:09 EDT
Article-I.D.: mtgzy.2014
Posted: Tue Sep 30 23:48:09 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 2-Oct-86 21:41:26 EDT
References: <111@mit-caf.ARPA>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Middletown NJ
Lines: 46
Keywords: poem, circa 1970




	To Emilia, Intimately, Publicly.


	Naked you shall see me
	(With but transient imperfections)
	As I stretch myself, luxuriously,
	Relishing a strongly sensual pleasure.

	(The fools' indifference counts for nothing.
	And those who admire me 
	May smile, affirm me as their own,
	Yet still be strangers.)

	You see, radiant beauty and naked strength are values,
	While faults and flaws, or imperfections,
	Non-values unworthy of purposeful display,
	Are minor afflictions -- to be ignored.

	Of course it would be corrupt of me 
	To brandish a blemish,
	As though it were really a torch,
	And do so as a part of my style.

	But I don't.  i hold a torch,
	A lamp which dispels darkness, 
	Effortlessly, since the existence of darkness
	Depends on the absence of light.

	So, I'll trade my poems for yours,
	And if you're good at it, more.
	Smile for smile, stretch for stretch,
	Nakedness for nakedness.



					Norman Andrews 1970?






-Norm Andrews, allegra!mtuxo!mtgzy!norm