The Recyclers by Brian Edwards

The Recyclers
 

A thousand years into the future
and the eyes are the same:
reddened by a drought of tears.

Skin dried by a closer sun 
reserves the right
to pucker and blush.

Hopeful stomachs still expand.
Hearts pump a dutiful
two thousand daily gallons.

Only the arms have evolved
having taken the form
of Pterodactyl heads

with which they dip
into the world's waste
like a terrible soup.

~

Update on September 20, 2009 at 2:11PM by Brian Edwards

The Recyclers
 

A thousand years from now
the eyes are the same red.

Skin dried by a closer sun remains
prone to both pucker and blush.

Hopeful stomachs continue to expand. 
Dutiful hearts pump their daily gallons.

Only the arms have evolved, now
the form of Pterodactyl heads

with which they dip into the world's waste 
like a terrible soup.

~

Comments

[pete pick]

i love 'terrible soup'. and 'drought of tears' is well-thought too.

[silent lotus]

dear Brian

lovely to hear your voice

and looking forward to more

just posted something in my portfolio
to see if the sit is working well

smiles
silent lotus

[Brian Edwards]

Thanks Pete for your appreciation of those lines. "reserves the right" is all wrong I think. I'll think some more.

Hey Chasan. I have left a comment in your portfolio. Great to see you around these parts. Be well.

B.

~

[jamesthomashoward]

Excellent, Brian. I love the Pterodactyl image, like a wooden duck bobbing its head in water. It's a poem which works very subtly and requires concentration. Ah, the cycles.

james

[Erika Hommel]

I dunno know why, but drought of tears just comes across like, ok yea. Ya know what I mean?

[Brian Edwards]

Thanks James, glad it works for you.

Erika, yeah, I hear you. I have been told similar elsewhere, too "poetic". Gonna think on it . . . maybe something simple, stark. Any ideas?

B.

~

[pete pick]

poetic, yes, maybe, but the paradox is good. something 'sandpapered', perhaps?

[Brian Edwards]

sandpapered?

[pete pick]

isn't that what i said? i'm so forgetful these days.....

[Brian Edwards]

yes, that is what you wrote. Would you care to explain?

Forgetfulness can be a worry:

Forgetfulness

Hope that helps.

B.

~

[pete pick]

thanks brian.
i was just musing about an image involving sandpapered eyes, it appears, but really it's of little value or importance.

forgetfulness.

i hope i remember that.....