Violence ( Goya "The Third of May 1808") by Ian Emberson
The brain - the brush here celebrate that long red stain seeping the universe .
Was not the chink of light peeping between the walls of birth - of death transient enough ? - and yet this trivial massacre must shorten it .
And only one protests - that man white-shirted - arms upraised in one last gesturing of affirmation . If he had got the time he might be singing - might tell them that life still has its treasuries to open for him at least - perhaps for them .
But these are no times for song , only that flinging of his arms is yet permitted him , and all his dazzling white and blaze-dark eyes are but a silhouette against the symmetry of dying .
One moment hence or rather but a millionth of a moment and life will be a full stop - filled with blood .
|