The trees, the trees have transformed. <br />Bark-covered branches and twiggy-twigs become fleshy limbs, <br />Supple legs and reaching arms. <br />Hands stretch out for any passer-by, <br />Feet wander about the place, <br />Here and there you see a face – <br />Peeking from it all! Trunks become torsos, <br />Leaves – flowing hair, <br />That dancing in the breeze, that dances in the air. <br />Naked bodies intertwine, <br />Flushed from slurping down cup <br />After cup of cheap box wine – <br />From some unknown origin. <br />Toothy grins smile, mouths stained red, <br />All are giddy, but they don’t know why – <br />The wine has gone to the head! <br />A mass of absent-minded humanity, <br />Caught somewhere between nirvana <br />And complete insanity, <br />Knotted-up together, all lost together – <br />All completely ignorant together <br />Huddled in a pile. <br /> <br />The garden, the garden is not a place for stopping <br />And smelling the roses. <br />This patch of green, overrun with debauched airheads <br />Is the sort of place where you want you escape. <br />The type of verdant field in which once you’ve arrived – <br />You can’t remember just how long you’ve spent – <br />Among the natives. <br />A paradise where every yearning and burning <br />And begging and desire one might have <br />‘neath the skin can come true! <br /> <br />In the shade of a demon, sun-tanning his wings – <br />Crawls hungry lust and jealous pride well-hidden behind <br />Sparkling trinkets, shimmering ornaments, shining things. <br />Oh, look how it all glitters in the morning light!<br /><br />Alexander Roussel<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-garden-of-earthly-delights/
