When we were frozen,
inert polished stone,
water rushed, algae bloomed.
The whole place breathed.
We were pulled, like tides,
pebbles sucked clean.
Scattered impulses unravelled,
assembled, rearranged,
became something sensible.
Eventually, backbones formed,
more sophisticated beings evolved,
spears broke bone, red droplets spattered.
Lumbering creatures were straightened
given cutlery, handed weapons.
Civilised.
We cracked the codes; assimilated,
enjoyed new smells:
charred meat, sweet spices, fresh linen.
We danced, loved, cried,
painted pictures, whispered stories,
tumbled easily asleep.
We made promises,
called them ‘money’,
then they made dreams come true.
We drained the bottle,
shuffled, dealt, risked everything.
Sipped coffee, nursed tender heads.
Then began anew,
cells gently repairing,
while ideas mutated, divided.
They propagated, grew
sprouted feathers, flew,
became enlightened creatures.
Love the alignment of ideas in that summary of human evolution – ‘given cutlery, handed weapons’. A bit like the opening credits for The Big Bang Theory except using language sparingly but effectively. Not sure I quite understand the end. Sprouting feathers? Really? Anyone care to help me out here?
Angels? Just a thought…
Thank you both so much for reading it! My thinking at the time was that I wanted to show ideas evolving in the way physical creatures do, to mirror the theme of the piece and to offer a sense of hope. The way birds take flight seemed to emphasise the idea of movement and freedom I wanted to convey.
I love the association with angels too, though, and also love how meta it is that an idea I wrote down about ideas taking on a life of their own has taken on a life of its own!
Thanks for that input, Rachel. Personally, I just love the way the words feel – the descriptive quality and momentum that those short phrases create but having a little nudge in the direction of their meaning doesn’t hurt either and adds to the enjoyment.
Congratulations on your success. I hope we hear a lot more from you in future.