Inferno, John Lyons (paper collage)

Let’s describe this
       as a cauldron of colour
light and energy
       bubbling away
soft pinks and blood reds
       with dark clouds
gathering at the rear
       the ragged edges
of torn paper laid
       on a bed of white card
one day collaged
       upon another and so
the picture builds up
       could be a fiery heaven
or an icy hell
       a state of mind
or simply an outburst
       of activity

But where
       you may ask
are the people ?
       where is there
anything familiar ?
       it’s all feeling
but feeling for what ?
       a life consumed
as a smokeless fuel
       moments of anger
moments of passion
       arterial moments of love

John Lyons