With one side a sprawling urban metropolis polluting the views

Creeping over the earth’s surface like a cancerous growth

On the other side lay an industrial waterway, an actuary of black blood

This tear on the landscape, carved by industrialist’s brandishing a dagger

Metal skeletons with arms carrying huge cables, veins of power

They are comic book hero’s lifting the twenty-first century over my oasis

A gritted conduit leads this weary traveller between green curtains

The drapes part every time, like an opening night on a Broadway Musical

A symphony of songs chorused from the hidden orchestra on every branch

The auditorium flew into my vision from all sides demanding my attention

Transfixed by this tableau I effortlessly glided to my front row seat

Captured by this scene I took a deep clean breath drawing in the tranquillity

The purity invaded every part of my being capturing the stresses of the day

My chest contracted, expelling inner pollutants, as my body visibly relaxed

Mother Nature embraced this glade, on all sides, with multiple shades of green

Before me this serenity was completed by a shallow expanse of muddied water

At its centre a small island capped off by three spindly trees, with hints of leaves

They looked like a rebellious rock band refusing to conform to luscious greenery

Fans surrounded their island stage, long slender stems breaching watery floor

Brown heads topped off each stem waving their adulation to their rock band

Ripples appeared on sun kissed watery surface as a breeze billowed the drapes

The ‘Bull Rushes’ swayed to a unique rhythm, bobbing their heads in unison

Their touching leaves were hands sounding load applause for the spindly band

Closing my eyes, in my mind, I too was swaying and clapping my appreciation

Two cracks resounded around the auditorium, was it a backfiring car!

Sharp pain seared through my head, blood glided across my field of vision

Head swayed back and forth, I’m weakening, can’t stand, light fading

I scream my last for help; birds fled, I crumpled falling amidst the ‘Bull Rushes’

 

© Phil Golding 05/08