Forever Screaming (Poetry)

MUNCH, Edvard 1863 - 1944 Norwegian painter and engraver whose works were often on the theme of death, include ‘The Cry’ (1893); a major influence on the expressionists, esp. on die Brücke (meaning ‘the bridge’) a group of German expressionist painters.

Humanity’s learnt
from Art’s bold lesson
that desperate scream
overwhelms with its
need for expression

How we hold it in —
forbid that raw voice
from finding its way
up out of the depths
where it’s kept at bay

locked tight in silence
it struggles within
long-bottled sorrow
and hurt festering
the pain grown intense

A nightmareish scene
on a bridge alone
where figures pursue
and sky’s garish tone
paints Hell pressing down

Emotions erupt
and rattle the skull
crack open the maw
at last setting free
eternity’s howl . . .