Ekphrastic Descent
An ekphrastic poem based on Pieter Bruegel the Elder's "The Fall of the Rebel Angels"
While not entirely free of sin,
The world once laid quiet. Dormant.
Man had not devoted itself to chaos
Until the day the skies ripped open.
The sun's white blinding hot light
Fell to the cracked earth in vain.
Darkness and shadow filled the air,
As angels descended from the Heavens.
They swung their swords and nooses,
Bestowing humanity a demonic horde.
Bloated toads. Shadowed, hollow men.
Headless figures and overgrown fish.
The angels turned men into monsters,
Creating life from torment and discord.
Even a stairway of heavenly light
Was no match for the atrocities of sin.
And the severed heads that still held on
To their last bit of humanity rolled,
No sound escaping their pallid lips,
As their eyes bled tears of repentance.
And even today, after the angels have
Up and gone, humanity continues to
Plague the world with sins far worse
Than the angels could ever imagine.
YOU ARE READING
Parchment and Perfume
PoetryThis draft represents the inner workings of my mind, among other things. All of my poems and prose will be cataloged here and available for feedback. Pieces will constantly be added or removed to fit the guidelines for any poetry submissions I have...
