You humans always seek war
You seem to crave it, to breathe it
You have become death
You have become the destroyer of worlds
You seek to destroy one another
To hold all the power
To become gods
You seek to become me, the woodpecker
You are no god
You have killed your god
She gave you life
She fed you from her wolven teat
You seek to replace her, my she-wolf
My sons
I admit
I played a part in your downfall
The Tiber should have taken you
You murdered and ruled
They called you a deity
Be soldiers.
I will destroy you before you take your first steps
I will send forth Aithon
I will send forth Phlogios
I will send forth Konabos
I will send forth Phobos
Be farmers.
I will nurture you
I will offer you a sacred shield
I will offer you a harvest
I will offer you a burning torch
My spear tip will become unstained
My red sand will become untainted
My cold will become warmth
I will become human
You will become better.
Critical Reflection
I wish for the stories of a past civilisation to be remembered and to act as both warnings and inspiration. Roman mythology has always fascinated me and I aimed to personify Mars through it. Mars offers humankind a fresh start, one free of their mistakes. I feel that Oppenheimer’s infamous quote epotimises humanity’s mistakes, and I wish for the reader to acknowledge their mistakes much as he did.
Elizabeth Allis is a third year English Literature and Film Studies student at York St John University. Since they were young they have enjoyed all sorts of literature, especially fantasy and science fiction. They are passionate about writing, whether it be an academic essay or a fantastical story.