WholesomeRadio Album Feature: Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land by MARINA
On the album Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land (2021), MARINA's biting lyricism within her all encompassing psych-pop album tackles hard-hitting themes of feminism intertwined with environmentalism issues. Overall, MARINA parlays the power of the divine feminine- the ultimate a tool to save the world. Below are a selection of ten poems, each inspired and entitled after a song from MARINA’s Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land (2021) album:
1. Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land
The Greek kissed at my feet and the Romans brushed my hair,
So why can’t you lend a helping finger on the ladder you’ve built?
Confusing steps as you tumble to the top, sliding past our groveling and bargaining hands
We bear witness to your wrongdoing and we strike down the mighty fist of unity
For we see what you cannot.
With our eyes and your moving jaw, perhaps we can weep at the world we sewed.
2. Venus Fly Trap
You wouldn’t like it if I stole your toys, so why must you steal my fun?
Don’t be shocked I took the bait when you placed your tongue in my trap.
The only one to blame is the one who can’t understand predictable nature.
It’s a fruitless attempt when you compliment my figure or my
personable nurture, the only part about me I like is my teeth.
I’ve sharpened them against people like you so that when I bite down hard,
It’s hard enough for you to know better.
3. Man’s World
I feel the urge to fix each sitch like an unattainable itch but for some reason that’s labeled me a bitch. I’m no witch with a magic wand, just a girl with an urge to fist that flips like a switch when your eyes only contact my tits. Perhaps it's unreasonable to ask for you to stitch yourself together, so I’ll submerge in the lake where all that can be seen is me and my bitchy mouth purifying your rich need to spoil every seed.
4. Purge the Poison
At every corner, you guessed wrong.
Now the other half stares at our backs as we all fix your indulgences.
Shaking down touchable legs at TSA as fast as your eye slides down my leg,
While you scream at popstars through the screen.
They can’t hear you, but Mother Nature can.
She isn’t happy with your discretionary apathy, so she brought the sun closer
To burn out the weak.
Thank your unrightfully lucky stars that we came back with
sledgehammers instead of our pitchforks.
5. Highly Emotional People
I know you feel it too, that tsunami under brew.
The only difference between me and you
Is that I can’t hide behind a solemn face, nor do I want to.
I let it pour all over me and spread across the sea so that it’s no longer me, it’s all of ours.
If you let me carry your weight maybe you’d see my venom isn’t meant to sting,
It’s meant to be in the sea.
6. New America
If you don’t like taxes, I’ll give you a toll:
Wash the blood off your hands while signing off your dues,
Wear your shoes on your hands while eating your feet,
Wake the sleeping cat while your white house burns down.
If you don’t like it, I’ll let you leave.
7. Pandora’s Box
If my legs melted and my eyes dropped,
would I still be allowed to look into yours?
If my shoulder wasn’t the strong one and my hope finally snapped,
could you close your eyes for me?
And if we just so happen to each spill milk,
do you promise to cry your eyes out right next to me?
8. I Love You but I Love Me More
Never had a girl turn you down at the door before?
It goes like this: I love you but I love me more.
It’s not that you’re bad, it’s just that I’m not good.
I’m only the best there ever was.
9. Flowers
The thick chains you gifted me aren’t of use anymore.
Pout your cheeks and frown your face.
I’m not sorry I didn’t like your gift,
I wanted flowers instead.
10. Goodbye
Do you hear me now?
Or is the pop synth too loud?
Nonetheless, goodbye, my friend.
I’m retiring with Mother Earth,
She and I can rest our feet in the sand, at last.
So why can’t you lend a helping finger on the ladder you’ve built?
Confusing steps as you tumble to the top, sliding past our groveling and bargaining hands
We bear witness to your wrongdoing and we strike down the mighty fist of unity
For we see what you cannot.
With our eyes and your moving jaw, perhaps we can weep at the world we sewed.