An Acquired Taste

Beauty of the common sort

is like last week's chardonnay--sweet, but bland

quickly drunk

and as quickly forgotten

But every now and then,

perhaps once in a lifetime

or twice, if a man is fortunate,

he meets with a woman

whose beauty is like a great Burgundy

deep, rich, complex, sublime,

full of character and texture,

each drop of which must be relished slowly

with discernment and savour

whose sharp acids and strong tannins

are inherent to its appeal;

but, if drunk too quickly,

bites the tongue and burns the throat

Such a woman,

she whose beauty is real

and invisible

shines with a mystical light,

like the glow of pure gold

The light of Faerie--

radiant with colours that cannot be seen by mortal eye

Those who have it not

paint and gild themselves

and hate those who do

But flash and sparkle are not light

Glitter and rhinestones are not jewels

But even among precious gems
thou, my love, art a Silmaril
Even among fine wines

thou, my love, art a sip from the Grail

-- M.S. du Pré