ISS Creative Eyes Competition

ISNEWS, UNSW International


Theme: "Australia through my lens"

An affected paradise
by Clayton Kai Xian Cheng

An oasis in the city's heart
For its parched inhabitants

To escape to the quietude of the gardens
From the bustle of the city centre

See.
The vividity of the rainbow in nature's palette
The blacks, greys and blues of the office suit

See.
The trees gently kissing in the breeze
The clandestine activities of couples in the bushes

Hear.
The merry laughter of the kookaburra
The chatter of abrasive mouths on mobile phones

Hear.
The fluttering flight of a thousand birds
The motor boats and aircraft screaming by

Smell.
The fragrant bouquet of kaffir lilies
The sweaty stench of Homo sapiens

Smell.
The aromatic elixir of herbs
The odorous poison of cigarettes

Taste.
The purity of morning dew
The artificiality of sweetened drinks

Taste.
The saltiness of the sea in the air
The bitterness of beer hop

Feel.
The soft grass under your feet
The sharp glass of broken bottles

Feel.
The delicate caresses of falling rain
While faceless throngs brush rudely past

See. The flashes of feathery fire.
Hear. The natural symphony of the finest orchestra.
Smell. The heady perfume of flora exotica.
Taste. The spice of life.
Feel. And be touched in return.

The Royal Botanic Gardens
An affected paradise