Poets logo

Breath Theft

An Ekphrastic Sonnet

By D. J. ReddallPublished 2 years ago • 1 min read
"An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump" by Joseph Wright of Darby, 1768

This is the wonder you choose to perform?

Having acquired esoteric truth

With light and tools enough to things reform

You proudly show you're red of claw and tooth?

Some eyes and hearts cannot ingest this thing

Others feast greedily on what you've made;

Some mourn a voice that can no longer sing

Others calculate the price you have paid

Depriving breathing beings of clear air

By means of mechanisms fresh and strange

Makes you feel new and strong, beyond compare

But how much does the lack of mercy change?

We think new toys will change the way we play

Our toys come to life, while our lives decay

Ekphrastic

About the Creator

D. J. Reddall

I write because my time is limited and my imagination is not.

Enjoyed the story? Support the Creator.

Subscribe for free to receive all their stories in your feed. You could also become a paid subscriber, letting them know you appreciate their work.

Subscribe For Free

Reader insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment
    Written by D. J. Reddall