To My Shadow
You stand behind me at the podium,
a mute accuser, and refuse to speak.
Words mean nothing to you.
Late, you rush ahead of me
on a deserted street, a total stranger,
while I hurry to catch up to you.
You have the floating liquidity of
a ghost who disappears around corners
and takes on odd shapes in the dark.
Sometimes you cling to me, a shady
figure slouching in doorways and alleys,
but other times you vanish completely.
Shadowy self, lonely double, I don’t know
which of us is more insubstantial.
Edward Hirsch. Special Orders.
My shadow is a lot more insubstantial than I am.
Mine, too, Friko.
Oh, look what you instigated!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYIf41yel7w
That was an unexpected treat on a Monday afternoon, Karen. Thank you.
Really beautiful. I must check my shadow out tomorrow
Mine just followed me down the drive to the mailbox, Kate. Hope you see yours tomorrow.
I take pictures of my shadow all the time, Penny. I don’t know why. It isn’t any thinner than me…………
Ha! Either is mine, Andra, but it is still fun to take its picture. (this one a lamp)
Very evocative photo and poem. I watch my shadow doing Tai Chi each morning. It seems to have its own life, and sometimes floats out over the water.
Isn’t it, Juliet? I just discovered it in a book I brought home from the library. I hope you captured your floating shadow for another Tai Chi blog.
Wow – a poem I understood at first reading! I love the photo too, is that yours?
I did, too, Janet. I found the small book of Hirsch’s in the library Saturday and in browsing came across the poem. Yes, it is my photo. The sun was shining briefly on a Tiffany style lamp we have on Saturday morning, so, I clicked away, then later came across the poem. Thank you.
What a lovely poem and photo, Penny, My shadow is at least lighter, if not thinner, than my somewhat substantial self.
Thank you, Perpetua. This is a poet I didn’t know about until Saturday and the poem fit with the photo I had taken earlier. Some of your serendipity. My shadow, well, my shadow overshadows me by quite a bit.
Great poem. Shadows are so interesting when you contemplate them that way.
Kizzy will be ready for her own shadow poem before too long…..
“I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, and what can be the use of him is more than I can see….”
I was so thrilled to come upon the poem, Joyce, and should me another way to look at shadows.
Now, how did you know? When I was visiting a few weeks ago, she was playing with her shadow and I started to recite the poem to her. Fun!
Dear Penny,
I’m with Friko on this. My shadow is lithe and lean. I’m twenty pounds overweight. Lumbering.
Peace.
I just realized I read Friko’s comment to say substantial. Sigh. My shadow, I fear doesn’t lie at my girth. Isn’t it fun to think of our shadows, though? Karen, who commented above, has a great link you can click onto for some shadow fun.
Shadows are so fun. We used to play shadow tag under the streetlights in the summer.
And, thanks to Karen for the visit to Donald O’Connor’s shadow.
I’d forgotten shadow tag, Janet. We did the same thing, jumping and tagging each other’s shadows in the dark, the entire neighborhood, it seemed, out playing. Thank you for that memory.
Wasn’t that fun to watch Donald O’Connor dance with his shadow?
You find some of the most beautiful things to share, Penny! This is a new one to me, and I just love it! I had a delight the other day watching my 80 year old mother playing “shadows” with her great-granddaughters. It was special. I think I’d like a copy of this poem:-) Debra
That is so sweet of you to say, Debra. It was new to me as well. Do copy the poem. It is from a book of poetry by Edward Hirsch, Special Orders, that I cam across a the library. Every so often I like to pick up a book of poetry and see what the poet has to say to me. This one hit a chord.
Isn’t that a wonderful sight, your mom and your granddaughters playing with their shadows together? I wonder who had more fun – the girls or your mom?
Dear Penny,
Thanks for pointing out that youtube video that Karen linked. I have such wonderful memories of seeing Donald O’Conner in films. I like his voice, his face, his dancing, his tapping, his physical steps. I just like him!
Peace.
I do, too, Dee. He makes me smile and he makes it all look so easy. You are welcome. I thought you might have missed it and that you would enjoy it.
I’ve only just managed to see the Donald O’Connor clip and loved it. What wonderful dancing and the song reminds me of my father who was a great Al Jolson fan and used to sing us to sleep wit some of his songs when we wee tiny.
I thought you would enjoy it, Perpetua, and what a wonderful memory to have of your father as you drifted off to sleep. I can just feel the coziness of it.
Lovely poem.
I thought so, too, Sallie and was so thrilled to come across it.