But all I can see
(I'm shallow, so shallow, I know)
Is her shape --
The shape of her body, that is --
Somewhat like a pear
Under her poncho-like costume
In short: she is fat.
Successful novelists are rarely good-looking.
Except when they're really old
Like Alice Munro or John le Carré
WILFs in their own right
(WILF = Writer I'd Like To Fuck)
But that's just because
Old people are endearing
Successful novelists are never good-looking.
What does that say about my aspirations?
Am I bound to relinquish my good looks
For writing ability
And become a Hemingway
Except fat and ugly and unpopular with women
(Not a Hemingway at all then, really)
Or shall I live forever handsome
And anonymous?
