The next piece is by Andrew McConnochie (titled 'Depart this Mortal Coil'). I liked the original photo because it raised questions of why the family would decide to put a fence around a gravesite - but then the photo has been layered with images of text, a butterfly and a cross (and possibly other bits still hidden in there). In my poem I was trying to respond to all aspects of the image ...
Cocooned in gentle claustrophobia
Needing security, wanting desire
Seeking freedom within life's toil
Attempting to unravel this mortal coil
Before arriving at a protected resting place
When silence drowns any revered words of grace.
Hush ... why cry, or sigh?
Be free, like a butterfly.
Love is pure, there is nothing to fear
No longer a cross to bear.
You can see the original photo in large (and other work by Andrew) here
3 comments:
I've since been advised by the artist that its not a butterfly but a raven in the photo. I had thought it strange to have a butterfly in a 'macabre' pic but thats what, in part, inspired me to write the poem - grave/cocoon/coil. Ah well ... :-)
Nice poem...
Butterly maybe not so strange in a picture of a grave. It symbolises resurrection. While the raven reminds me of Edgar Allen Poe's poem in which a raven keeps saying 'nevermore' and, as I understand it, the author doesn't believe his soul will ever rise again. I prefer your butterfly :-)
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