The Wasteland, A New Era

a play on the old poem called The Wasteland

 

Standing above the mound

In the middle of the rotten weeds

He glanced down at a small nest.

 

Two turtle doves had put together

A stronghold made of branches and mud

And secured it with a little bit of lace

That must have fell from someone’s shoes.

 

The man thought to himself

“How lucky these turtle doves must be.”

For their nest lay high and dry.

 

Around it lie the wastes of the land.

Putrid water and trash grew from the ground

And small puddles of darkness

Reminded those that passed

Of their guilt, sin and spitefulness.

 

For this land wasn’t a waste of nature

But a waste of human morality.

 

And only the two turtle doves lay pure in essence, safe and secure.

Reviews

[Travis Lawrence]

I love the imagery. And the contrasting style of the turtle doves against the backdrop of a bare environment makes the poem strong. The last line is my favorite. It leaves the reader on a serene note, and with some hope. Well done.