Of Inaccessible Beauty
The work explores themes of beauty, longing, and social class through the perspective of a shopkeeper who interacts with elegant women seeking exquisite items. The shopkeeper experiences intense emotions and desires when confronted with their refined appearances and luxurious garments. However, he reflects on the nature of beauty, realizing it is not confined to the elite but can be found in everyday life, represented by a simpler, kind-hearted maid. This realization prompts a shift in his attitude, leading him to charge the wealthy women exorbitantly for their purchases, using the profits to adorn the more modest beauty of his friend. The narrative contrasts superficial beauty with deeper, more genuine forms, emphasizing the complexity of human desire and the value of authenticity over societal standards. The shopkeeper's internal conflict highlights the tension between aspiration and reality, ultimately suggesting that true beauty is often overlooked in favor of the ostentatious.
By Thomas Burke · First published 1913 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Literary Fiction · 259 words
First lines
Ladies in elegant silks and laces Have come at times to my insignificant shop, For pieces of jade, or banners, or curious cuttings of ivory. And I look with insufferable emotion Upon their roseleaf skin, And breathe the soft scents that flow from their garments, And long to soothe their lily-fingered hands. In their presence I am seized with longings unutterable, And am filled with a sickness of my present unkind estate.
But then I remember That Beauty's not always a star, Not always remote, not always in lofty places, Chrysanthemum-clad and lily-sheathed; But often lies in the hedges And peeps from street-corners And lurks shyly behind broken doorways.
What this Textopian page supports
Of Inaccessible Beauty is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Burke, dated 1913 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Thomas Burke
- Date: 1913 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Literary Fiction, Aestheticism, Social Commentary
- Length: 259 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Similar titles
- A Landscape by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- The Eyes Of Beauty by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- Friendships Garland by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- Beauty by George William Russell
- To Aubrey De Vere by George Macdonald
- The Sick Muse by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing lyrical language and imagery to convey emotions and themes.
- Romanticism — The themes of beauty, longing, and emotional depth reflect the ideals of Romantic literature.
- Literary Fiction — The focus on character introspection and the exploration of beauty in everyday life aligns with literary fiction.
- Aestheticism — The emphasis on beauty and sensory experience is characteristic of the Aesthetic movement.
Tags
beauty · inaccessibility · art · aesthetics · philosophy · nature · perception · emotion · transcendence · longing · desire · imagination