Modernity

A perspective.

Crop circles land

by night

in an uncertain field,

as a window to the world

closes, tight shut,

forever.

 

In the mouth of the moon,

a crab apple,

pincers set to kill mode,

takes aim at the sun.

A flare up of biblical

proportions spills

like grain from a hopper,

suffocating everything

and everyone.

 

Armageddon arrives

as April rises in the afterbirth

of mans aftermath,

and the hoards howl

and chant

and bang their shields

with Britney Spears.

 

Microchips sold hot

from South Korea

sprinkled with assault

and ketchup TV

go down well

with the Americans,

while Mexican drug

cartels lord it

over everyone

on the border with

The Eagles.

 

Meanwhile Russian and Chinese

warships at full steam, head

for Hawking's Black holes,

hoping that gravitational acceleration 

will prove once and for all

God does not exist,

and never did.

 

09/06/19

Author's Note

Reviews

[kentuck14]

Indeed this is surrealistic and filled with coded messages. Well, as probably everyone in our circle knows by now, I'm a believer (a lonely voice crying in the wilderness), but I too believe the world is a mess and going in the wrong direction. Have to admit the USA is a violent culture. Has been since the first shots on Lexington Green many years ago, and is now in our current political system, relationships and media.
The imagery here reminds me of T.S. Elliot's "The Wasteland." Or at least what I've read of it. Although he never mentioned Britney Spears, Ketchup TV, crop circles, microchips and drug cartels . . . but if he were still around, I'm sure he's wished he had.

Why would Russia and China look for black holes . . . they are already in one!!!! In my (I hope) humble opinion, I doubt we will ever prove the existence or nonexistence of God on this side of the grave. All that remains to be seen! Interesting poem John you old revolutionary!!! Thanks for a poem that provokes discussion.
Tom

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Wow Tom thank you for such a full and considered comment. The black holes represent the way both are puching at the edges of conflict by their aggressive land/sea terretorial grabs. And no offence Tom I believe everyone has the right to believe, to make choices about thie faith. Mine is science yours god. A book to read which lays out the arguments without getting overly religious or evangelical is "This Thing Of Darkness " (2005) by Harry Thompson

[kentuck14]

John,
No offence taken my friend . . . I'll check out that book. Thanks
Tom

[Eilis]

I like your surreal approach here, John. Seems a nod to the way we keep living as though it's business as usual while things fall to pieces around us. It's like a catch twenty-two, though, isn't it? No one will keep up for us, so it's difficult to stop and try to put an oar in for the real problems that stand to influence our long-term future.

But the pop culture keeps poppin and partying as if the world can sustain consumerism and skirt the catastrophe of armed conflicts and other threats forever. It's unsettling, and your poem perfectly captures the spirit of it all, in my opinion. Excellent.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

And you dear Eilis have captured my intention perfectly in such a well considered and spot on review. Many thank.

[Paul Bell]

Probably started with God when he kicked out Adam and Eve.
Mankind has been kicking ever since.
Thunderclap Newman comes to mind. Eve of destruction.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Adam and Eve piff! Another fairy story but Thunderclap Newman and now you are talking. One of my favourite songs 'Something in the Air'!
Cheers Paul.

[kentuck14]

"Eve of Destruction" by Barry McGuire circa 1966.

[Edie Blue Starfish]

I'm of the mind that God doesn't exist.
Sure we came from somewhere, somehow, but there's no heavenly father watching over us. Otherwise he'd have kept his children in line.
We are on an unfortunate path, as a whole, but perhaps there's hope for our existence in some star wars/star trek fashion if we can find other planets to colonize. It's a strong poem that sparks strong thoughts and opinions.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

To be honest I am not that disappointed to be a disciple of Darwin and Hawking and i resigned to the facts which lets me stop worrying about original sin and all that malarkey! Many thaks for looking at this with consideration Edie.

[Aurora]

I like the way you combine age-old fantastic myths with the hyperbole and hearsay of the present. Pretty adroit, if you ask me.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you for reading and commenting Aurora.

[Chris Shaw]

We certainly seem to be on a journey to self destruct at the moment and your descriptive lines don:t hold back. Some powerful and depressing imagery conveyed. I smiled at your reference to Britney. Your fourth stanza descriptive is clever. Good morning John.

Cbris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Morning Chris, I guess I was thinking about the myriad of disputes, wars and environmental issues we hear about every day while we just get on with it and still become fixated with our own lives.

[Chris Shaw]

Yep it's all kicking off while we deal with our day to day :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

such a pessimistic view of the world, and maybe how those from another planet see us in self-demise...
because it seems we definitely on that course...
i especially like the Brittany Spears reference as well as the "ketchup tv"
and if it's Heinz...the ending will be slow, and really painful.
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks Jacob. I guess there is a pessimistic horizon right now as we struggle with plastic pollution, Sudan, North Korea, China's ingress into the Senkaku Islands, Iran. Russia and Crimea/Ukraine etc