Drawings by Emma Devine Illustrating "The Man With The Bag Of Nails" by John Ballard

And then came man, with his hammer and his bag of nails.

And he nailed the shining sun to the heavens, in case it should leave him cold.

And he nailed the bright moon fast to the silent sky, for fear of being left in darkness.

And he nailed the clouds to the shifting wind so they would not gather above him.

And he nailed down the salt sea and each fish fast within it.

And he nailed the bright birds to the empty air, and every creature that flew, or walked, or crawled, or slithered, he nailed hard in its allotted place.

And then came a carpenters son. And man, afraid, took him and nailed him tight to a tree, 

for this man's tongue could loosen nails.