Prompt:

Write a creative piece (essay or story) in reaction to the image.

500 words maximum.

An ethereal hush fell upon the trees, dampened by the morning dew.  The wind filtered through the leaves, as if the lightest touch could break the mighty wood.  Amidst this serene meadow, a looming mass slept.  Rust, trash and decay weathered its once distinctive features.  Many a wanderer often contemplated its purpose.  Many a wanderer never gave it a second glance. 

Minutes to hours, hours to days, days to years, the structure stood in silence.  Locals tried countless times to waken it, whispering words of naïve hope that echoed against its armour.  No amount of new clothing or extravagant displays of affection could rejuvenate the beast.  Stubbornly, it remained passive and seemed to prefer being left alone.

Frustration and confusion replaced feelings of inspiration.

“Today, we will be the change it needs,” Leader said, convincing the common folk with words of assumed wisdom.  “Today, we will make it beautiful for everyone to see, to appreciate.  We are giving it a reason to live.”

Nodding amongst themselves, they gathered their belongings and strode towards the dark.  They had no fear, armed with their spiked poles and sharp, bloody claws.  It was time they did something about the beast, for good. 

The monster stayed silent, assessing its new adversary.

The creatures reached its body and let their eyes adjust to the dim light with feverish grins.  Masters of their craft, they meticulously checked the weapons they brought with them.  They opened the barrels of ammunition, releasing heavy fumes into the air.  Someone coughed violently nearby and was quickly hushed by the others.     

The monster stayed silent, immune.

They began to load their weapons of choice - poleaxes dripping blood of previous challengers, coarse claws, and swords with razor-sharp edges. Sounds of excited chatter broke through the ranks. The anticipation was overwhelming. 

Once Leader nodded, the creatures encircled and conquered the behemoth, carving out the parts they deemed unsightly and replaced organs with facades. Red, orange, yellow, green… without mercy, they gouged it from inside out. They swept blue over its eyes, choked it with indigo, bound its heart with purple.

The applause from onlookers hit the monster like a tsunami, yet it stayed silent as the warriors stepped away from their masterpiece in triumph.  The conquering of the beast would be something the people would celebrate in the years to come.  To them, the renewed tunnel was a sign of purity, of second chances.  As they were the original makers, it was their responsibility to deal with the grotesque metal skeleton of a tunnel that ambiguously stood out in their landscaped park.  To them, this was perfection.

The anguished monster stayed silent. How could it weep without eyes?  Beg with no mouth?

With one last, lingering shudder, it succumbed to the will of its master who had the audacity to tamper with beauty in its simplest form – untamed nature itself.

  Like a soft blanket, the trees enclosed the corpse and took it as their own. 

Disclaimer: the text is my response from six years ago, without any edits or updates made in hindsight.