Even Ornaments of Speech are Forms of Deceit by Ron Koertge
This is another one from 180 More. I’m reminded of Permanently by Kenneth Koch. I like this one because, despite my love of poetry, I’m a very reason-oriented person and like for things to be 1) explainable and 2) ordered. I’m amused by the personification of these “ornaments of speech”.
“Even Ornaments of Speech are Forms of Deceit”
HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY
By Ron Koertge
It’s 1667. Reason is everywhere, saving
for the future, ordering a small glass of wine.
Cause, arm in arm with Effect, strolls by
in sturdy shoes.
Of course, there are those who venture
out under cover of darkness to buy a bag
of metaphors or even some personification
from Italy, primo and uncut.
But for the most part, poets like Roderigo
stroll the boulevards in their normal hats.
When he thinks of his beloved, he opens
his notebook with a flourish.
“Your lips,” he writes, “are like
lips.”
