by Elisabeth Rees

The great burning orb; violent, smoky sky;
A beautiful face; gallant victory;
Force of passion; life’s widespread mystery;
Scorching fire!; civilisations that die;
Kings anew; Romance; holy perfection;
Grand splendour in ruin; promise of lands;
Smallness; sublimity; working hands;
Machinery; atomic destruction:

All these inspiration to the ancients,
Or near-moderns: creation pure, guileless.
And lucky us! For we know it all,
All the time, in seconds, heedless of patience,
Though what will we leave? Only emptiness?
For none of this greatness ‘ours’ can we call.

Photo by Elisabeth Rees