Poetry: The Decoy, Paradise Lost

The Decoy

after The Decoy, painted by Edith Rimmington

The wind flies past through moments.
Bright green light taking over.
With wings extended,
A moth’s life-circle
I see, as it comes into focus.

The sinless chrysalis, 
another life
Inside humans’ hands control,
Needing to be freed.

The Plants vessels
Slidden into human hands.
Too deep to get out,
Deep enough to reveal secrets.

Human steps,
Thumping miles behind natures,
Desperate to keep up.
Fitting in even less.

Though time,
Accompanied by wind and wildlife,
carries on, not stopping.
To catch the next moment. 

Paradise Lost

after Paradise Lost, painted by Raqib Shaw, Pace Gallery

The spotlight gets turned,
Revealing a
Paradise Lost. 

I see the bright skye –
A mother watching
As her children play.

I see the lifeless structure,
Only taking up space.
As life drifts apart, it does too.

With the clock ticking
The game carries on.
Battle after battle,
A side to defeat. 

I see the worlds evolution
Controlled by human power.
With nets, swords, whips
Turned against nature.
Colour overshadowing
The darkness of mankind.

Ungrateful and unimportant
We are unconsciously destroying
What is not ours.