Picture a Vacuum

Picture a vacuum
An endless and unmoving blackness
Peace, or the absence, at least, of terror
Now see, in amongst all this space
That speck of light in the furthest corner
Gold as a pharaoh's coffin

Now follow that light with your tired eyes
It's been a long day, I know, but look
Watch as it flickers and it roars into fullness
And fills the whole frame
Blazing a fire you can't bear the majesty of
Here is our sun
And look

See how the planets are dangled around it?
And held in that intricate dance
There is our Earth, our Earth
Its blueness soothes the sharp burn in your eyes
Its contours remind you of love
That soft roundness

The comfort of ocean and land mass
Picture the world, older than she ever thought that she'd get
She looks at herself as she spins
Arms loaded with trophies of her most successful child
The pylons and mines, the power plants shimmer in her still
Cool breath, now is that a smile that plays her lips?
Or is it a tremor of dread?

The sadness of mothers as they watch the fates of their children
Unfold in now in fast Kaleidoscopic vision
The colours like drugs in your belly
Churning, your skin pulled loose as a pup shaken and tighten
Now everything's flashing and the waves are magnified
As they roll up towards you and you're tiny as sand
Just a speck

And as you approach the surface
All of that peace that you felt is replaced with this furious never known passion
You're feeling the people, the life, their faces are bright in your body
You're feeling you want to be close to them, closer
'Cause these are your species, your kindred

Where have you landed?
Uncurl yourself, stand up, and look at your limbs
All intact, clothed in the fashion
This is a city, let's call her London
And these are the only times you have known
"Is this what it's come to?" You think
"What am I to make of all this?"