I think one of the things that language poets are very involved

Host: The room was bathed in the dimming glow of evening, the last traces of daylight casting long shadows across the floor. Outside, the city hummed with life, but inside, the room felt distant, cocooned in the soft light and the stillness of the moment. Jeeny sat at the table, her hands wrapped around a mug, the steam rising slowly in the air. Jack stood by the window, staring out into the dimming world, his gaze distant, lost in thought. The atmosphere between them was thick, as though something significant was waiting to be said.

Host: The air felt charged, the silence hanging between them like a question. Finally, Jeeny spoke, her voice soft but full of conviction, the words coming from somewhere deep within.

Jeeny: “I was thinking about something Diane Wakoski said: ‘I think one of the things that language poets are very involved with is getting away from conventional ideas of beauty, because those ideas contain a certain attitude toward women, certain attitudes toward sex, certain attitudes toward race, etc.’ Do you think that’s true, Jack? That beauty, as we traditionally understand it, is tied to certain ideals that perpetuate certain power structures?”

Jack: He turned from the window, his eyes narrowing slightly, his expression skeptical. “I see what she’s getting at, but I’m not sure I fully agree. Sure, conventional ideas of beauty are often tied to stereotypes, to unrealistic standards that don’t represent everyone. But to say that beauty is always problematic? That seems like an overstatement. Beauty can be something that transcends all that. It’s not inherently bad; it’s just been corrupted by society’s expectations.”

Jeeny: Her gaze softened, but her voice remained firm, almost quiet, yet certain. “But beauty doesn’t exist in a vacuum, Jack. The way we define beauty is shaped by society — by who holds the power and who is left out. It’s easy to say beauty is pure, but what about the way it’s often weaponized, commodified? Beauty has always been used to control, to define who is worthy and who is not. Think about how women are often judged for their looks, how race influences the way someone is seen, the way they’re valued. There’s nothing neutral about these standards.”

Jack: His posture stiffened slightly, but there was a flicker of understanding in his eyes. “I get that. Beauty has been used to exclude, to reinforce certain hierarchies, but does that mean it should be thrown out altogether? Beauty isn’t inherently bad. It’s what we make of it, right? Just because society has twisted beauty to its own ends doesn’t mean we should stop appreciating it, or that it should be erased. The idea of beauty can still be liberating, don’t you think?”

Jeeny: She leaned forward slightly, her voice gaining a quiet intensity. “But that’s the point, Jack. Beauty is tied to so much more than personal appreciation. When beauty is only seen through a lens of power and privilege, it excludes so many people. It makes us feel like we have to conform to a certain image, to a certain idea of what’s worthy, and in doing so, it erases individuality. The beauty we’re taught to admire is not universal — it’s a tool used to perpetuate social and cultural norms that have been in place for centuries. So, how do we redefine beauty in a way that truly values all people?”

Jack: He took a step back, his arms crossing slightly as he reflected on her words. “But can we really separate beauty from what it means to us personally? Isn’t beauty something we individually connect with, based on our own tastes, our own lives? The way we see beauty is influenced by culture, yes, but it’s also something deeply subjective. We can’t ignore that it speaks to us in a way that’s personal.”

Jeeny: “Of course beauty is personal, Jack. But it’s not just about how we see it. It’s about how society teaches us to see it, how it shapes our ideas of worth, of success, of acceptance. If we’re constantly taught that beauty is only a certain thing, then we’re stuck in a loop of limiting ourselves and others. The power of beauty should be about freedom, about self-expression, not about fitting into a mold. But when beauty becomes about conformity, when it’s reduced to something unattainable, it hurts us. We need to reclaim beauty for everyone, to make it something that includes all identities, all expressions.”

Jack: He let out a soft sigh, his eyes downcast for a moment, the weight of the conversation settling into his thoughts. “Maybe you’re right. I’ve always seen beauty in a certain way, without questioning why. It’s easy to assume it’s just about aesthetics, just about appreciation. But there’s so much more to it than that, isn’t there? Beauty has power. It’s how we shape our world, how we define who belongs and who doesn’t.”

Jeeny: She nodded slowly, her expression calm but filled with a quiet satisfaction, knowing they were approaching a shared understanding. “Exactly. Beauty is a reflection of the world we create. But if we change how we define beauty, if we make it inclusive and empathetic, we can change how we see each other. We can shift the narrative from exclusion to inclusion, from perfection to authenticity. That’s where true freedom lies — in seeing beauty not just in a narrow sense, but in all the diversity that surrounds us.”

Host: The room was quiet now, but there was a new sense of understanding between Jack and Jeeny. They had found common ground in the realization that beauty, far from being a simple aesthetic, was tied to deeper societal structures that shaped not only how we see others but how we see ourselves. As the night deepened outside, the conversation left a lingering truth in the room — that true beauty is one that embraces all, not just the few who fit the narrow definitions society has created.

Jack: “I think I get it now. Beauty isn’t just about what we see. It’s about what it means — how it connects us, how it reflects the values we hold. And those values need to change, to include more, to celebrate differences.”

Jeeny: Her eyes softened, a quiet smile tugging at her lips. “Exactly. Beauty is meant to lift us up, to make us feel seen. And when it’s defined for everyone, it becomes a force for change.”

Host: The night outside had settled in fully, but inside, the conversation had come to rest in a peaceful understanding. Jack and Jeeny had uncovered a shared truth — that beauty is not just a reflection of the world, but a powerful tool that shapes how we see each other. The world is beautiful in all its diversity, and when we stop trying to fit everyone into the same mold, we can truly begin to appreciate the authenticity of those around us.

The evening closed with that quiet realization, a deep truth that the most important beauty is the one that accepts all, in its myriad forms.