covered our bodies in chemically engineered layers,
refusing to let the crisp air penetrate,
wishing the dark days away,
as if time was ours to discard
with no consequences.
They say all this.
The world must have been different then.
———
Inspiration
‘Snow can lift my heart in a way that sunshine never could.‘
I have waited, and you have come Martine McDonagh
———-
This week, on dVerse Poetics, Mary asks us to write poetry inspired by quotations – or by a photo, or by a headline in a newspaper, or, or, or… let’s get inspired!
I have used a quotation from one of my favourite dystopian novels, ‘I have waited, and you have come’ by Martine McDonagh. I highly recommend it! My poem is set in a future where the sun is to be feared, not welcomed…
Please pop over to dVerse to see how others have risen to the challenge!
“You’re full of questions today, aren’t you, poppet?”
“But how am I going to learn about things if I don’t ask questions? That’s what granny tells me.”
“Your granny tells you a lot of things, but it doesn’t mean you have to believe all of them.”
“But, Da-ad!”
I envy my daughter. I wonder how long it will be before her sense of wonder is replaced with constant mistrust and fear. I sigh.
“OK. The Facility is a prison. It’s where bad people are sent, the ones who don’t respond to Treatment.”
“Treatment?”
“Like school, but instead of learning things like reading and writing, they learn how to be better behaved.”
“Oh. So the ones who don’t learn their lessons get sent out there?”
“Yes.”
An approaching ice-cream van distracts her. Time enough for her to realise that The Facility is merely a staging post. It is full of men and women forced to copulate and produce violent, bloodthirsty children, children who are trained in the art of war.
I am The Facility’s architect, may humanity forgive me. May my daughter forgive me.
————–
Here’s my latest entry intoAlistair’s Sunday Photo Fiction. He supplies us with his own wonderful photos, so deserves our support! I’ve been working on my dystopian novel in progress today, and I just can’t seem to shake the dark mood, as I expect you can tell! Happy Sunday, all….
Do take part if you have time, or just pop over and read the other entries!
Return me to a gentle land Gather me in, take my hand Restore my mind to calmer days Remove the scene that still replays over and over, jamming my head Bring me serenity, a constant thread of restoration, courage anew Let me forge ahead, source my strength from you Know that with each breath and every pace I take you with me, see your face Hear your laughter, envisage your smile Yes, we are parted, but just for a while Life is but a moment, a wrinkle, a sigh This is only adieu, Dad, not forever goodbye.
******
Because time passes, pain eases, gratitude settles in and new dawns are always possible. Amazingly, I wrote this poem before reading Grace’s introduction at Open Link Night – and yet it just seems to fit. I have so much for which to be grateful.
Please do visit the dVerse Open Link Night for examples of some very fine poetry indeed – and be inspired… Join us!
