700. Pictor Poem by Jaden Knight

500 years ago a group of ancient priests in white robes
created 100 golems in the crater of Rangitoto
brought to life by the lava within their rocky bodies
designed to serve any human master

Their last creation was known as Pictor
viewed as inferior by many of the others due to his size
unlike them he was not given a voice or tongue
just sent out into the world to work
with only a set of slates to write on

After many years Pictor found a good family to serve
and worked hard for them every day
but at night was left alone in the barn to do nothing
with only the sleeping animals for company

During those hours of boredom he would get upset
as he had no tasks or work to complete
he could not express himself on the slates he carried
and so did not know how to deal with the frustration

Then one evening before going to bed
the daughter gave Pictor an artist's set as a present
his eyes almost glowed with happiness
when he saw all the brushes, paints and canvas

That night he sat at the easel painting
until all of the materials had been used up
the answer to his nocturnal frustrations had been found
for now he had plenty to do

Now he spends most of the nights painting happily
creating works of art that could sell for thousands
it's as closest to happiness as Pictor could ever get
for despite being made with no way of speaking
he has finally found his unique voice