I do not know the official definition of 'BEAUTY'.

I could look it up, but - No.

I shall think a bit, and consider my own criteria.

I don't see why discussing 'Beauty' should be snooty.

Therefore: 'What is Beauty?'

(And I'm off – maybe with more guts than good sense.

Join me if you wish, or say 'To hell with it' right here.)

 

BEAUTY is a famous Universal

probably jostling Love as the least explainable

even better than 'What is Red?' which is really splendid.

 

Beauty is an 'idea' that tries to explain

any quality, any 'thing'

which arrests a person's whole self

when it enhances an errant thought

or focusses a formless wish.

An intangible stimulus -

a brain-flash of intuitive knowledge.

It fills you like a vessel to the brim

when you never knew you were empty.

 

Beauty is personal to you, only 'You'

your genes, your experience, your thoughts

your place in Creation.

Not dictated by those who 'know' what it should be

but wholly individual

not better, nor less than anyone else's concept.

 

Ugliness is hurled at us constantly

until we see – think – feel - only 'Ugly'.

And we are burdened with responsibility.

We need Beauty for sanity and endurance

for simple happiness.

We have the Right to Beauty without guilt!

 

But Beauty does not barge in.

We must be open like a flower to the sun

Defenceless and trusting.

Not too different from 'God' really.

Maybe Beauty, Love, God -

are all names for the same idea.

I've long considered Love and God synonymous;

I've not readily plunked Beauty in there.

But the connection is an old concept in all humanity.

Strange how 'thinking' always seems to be just 'catch-up'

with the Ancients and Mediaevalists.

 

Cynthia Buell Thomas,

May, 2017