Found Poem

Found Poem

Darkness: A Found Poem Crafted from Chapter Five, ‘Beast from Water’.

Ralph chose the firm strip,

He needed to think,

Lost in a maze of thoughts,

This meeting must not be fun,

But Business.

The declining sun breathed against his face,

A new mood of comprehension,

Stiff like cardboard,

Unpleasant,

Dirt,

Decay,

Uncomfortable pink area and frayed edges.

The grim mood,

The fault at the fire,

The sun was gone,

Again lost in deep waters.

The darkness off the island,

The place looked so different,

In your hands,

What was a face?

What was anything?

In your hands.

He faced the chief’s seat,

Ralph,

Jack,

Simon,

Maurice,

Piggy.

“We need an assembly.”

Intent faces turned to Ralph,

He flourished the conch,

“I’ve been alone.

By myself I went.”

…Dropping words like heavy round stones.

“We decide things

But they don’t get done.”

He licked his lips,

“There’s three huts,

Shelters.”

The murmurs died away.

“Who built the shelter?”

Clamor rose at once.

“We all built at first,

Four of us second…

…Me ‘n’ Simon built the last one.”

“We chose the rocks as a lavatory.”

Sniggers here,

Swift glances there,

“That’s dirty!”

Laughter rose.

The tide was coming in.

“People are getting frightened.” Jack said,

The hair creeping in his eyes,

“There is no beast!”

“It’s a clever beast.”

“There is no beast!”

“The beast comes out of the sea.

The last lonely laugh died away….

Argument started again,

“Daddy said

They haven’t found all of the animals in the sea.”

Maurice took the glimmering conch.

“Like Piggy said

Life is scientific.”

Piggy could see the lightness in the gloom,

Simon took the conch,

“Maybe there is a beast,”

The dark voice,

The assembly roared in amazement.

The fear came,

A limit had been tapped,

Beyond the reach of authority,

Beyond the reach of physical Intimidation.

They cried out,

And Jack laughed.