Love and Miss Marilyn Monroe

 

Delmore Schwartz

(after Spillane)

Let us be aware of the true dark gods

Acknowledging the cache of the crotch

The primitive pure and powerful pink and grey

                   private sensitivities

Wincing, marvellous in their sweetness, whence rises

                   the future.

Therefore let us praise Miss Marilyn Monroe.

She has a noble attitude marked by pride and candor

She takes a noble pride in the female nature and torso

She articulates her pride with directness and exuberance

She is honest in her delight in womanhood and manhood.

She is not a great lady, she is more than a lady,

She continues the tradition of Dolly Madison and Clara

Bow

When she says, "any woman who claims she does not like

                   to be grabbed is a liar!"

Whether true or false, this colossal remark

                   states a dazzling intention...

It might be the birth of a new Venus among us

It atones at the very least for such as Carrie Nation

For Miss Monroe will never be a blue nose,

          and perhaps we may hope

That there will be fewer blue noses because

          she has flourished --

Long may she flourish in self-delight and the joy

          of womanhood.

A nation haunted by Puritanism owes her homage and

gratitude.

Let us praise, to say it again, her spiritual pride

And admire one who delights in what she has and is

(Who says also: "A woman is like a motor car:

          She needs a good body."

And: "I sun bathe in the nude, because I want

          to be blonde all over.")

This is spiritual piety and physical ebullience

This is vivid glory, spiritual and physical,

Of Miss Marilyn Monroe.