FALL
2019
KIOSK 61
Liam Hogan Unittled 2, 2018
PARADISE LOST
A Modern Day View of Athens, Greece by Brett Knepper
You lean against a pillar, Looking out across your empty world with a smile; Seeing things as they are --
Those who came before knew
A way in which you’ve designed.
How to let the beauty of nature shine through Only taking the territories needed,
The country over the hill was vast once,
And in those which they did use,
Glowing with the golden shine of corn;
Creating structures equal to the gods’ own Olympus.
Making a stocky sea of yellow Unlike the blue Mediterranean behind it,
But you, you have taken that
Unlike the grey clouds of smog behind you.
And made it a sight for the wealthy to gaze, Keeping the few spaces left and structures
Now it’s tight, cramped,
As reminders for our hearts
Scoured by the ever-growing boundaries of tar
As your cities take over the remains.
Spreading their undulating fingers across the land, Hoping to take up every last inch
“Tear down the trees,” you say.
Thus fulfilling your desire in the process.
The dust settles, upon which we build. And I watch you snicker at your pillar From what’s left of Victoria As the clouds above rain tears for fallen earth,
And I below weep tears for fallen earth.
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