Alien Exercise

Here's another piece from SHP's creative writing workshop based on the Craig Raine poem 'A Martian Sends a Postcard Home'.

this atmosphere is unusual

i feel like I’m being assaulted by this unseen force
temperature’s changing
what is the purpose of this?
there is a life-force growing out of the man-made earth
some barren
others clothed in green glitter
half dull in the shadows
while the glitter moves with what appears to be an e-motional force
the direction keeps changing
and what is that pure coloured mass moving overhead?
strangely changing shapes and colours too
the humans seem to be zipping up + the fine fibres on their head
can’t make up its mind how to sit
but i’m more fascinated by this force which i cannot see
occasionally it flies up my nasal ducts
teasing me, without leaving a scent
and in an instant overwhelming sharp
dry, cold, moist, dead, angry
sensations circling
what does this mean?
the humans seem unaffected by it all
in fact it looks to me like it gives them enjoyment
i saw one licking their lips
it must be edible then
i can feel it in my hand
it’s certainly alive
but by the time i bring it to my lips it’s gone
interesting …
the swaying life-force is spitting its glitter to the ground
and the unseen force keeps shifting it around…
it must be a game, one which humans aren’t afraid to play
at last, I can see our blue life food source
this planet must be upside down!

By Nikki