Fashion (Credo)

The tragedy of modern life

Is that people must be told,

For all that under Heaven is,

What’s good and what’s to like.

Fashion is a perfect scold,

We ignore her at our peril.

If any man stand up to her

He’s left out in the cold.

But Fashion is not clever,

Her head is easily turned.

Though cheaply won

With wiles and flattery,

Beware her infamous moods.

Imagined slights

And dictums spurned

Soon excite displeasure.

What wisdom may we elicit,

In answer to such calls

As: “What to do?”

And: “How to live?”

Do what’s right (as Father said),

And hold your head up high,

In spite of all that befall us

There’s nothing else for it.