Invitation to Poetry: Light & Shadow
June 1, 2009 · by Christine
Welcome to our 36th Poetry Party!
I select an image and suggest a theme/title and invite you to respond with your poems or other reflections. Add them in the comments section and a link to your blog (if you have one). Make sure to check the comments for new poems added and I encourage you to leave encouraging comments for each other either here or at the poet’s own blog.
ADDED NOTE: Mister Linky is acting kind of funny and not loading properly and slowing down the loading of my blog, so for now we’re doing this the old-fashioned way and posting the poems and links in the comments section. Thanks!
Feel free to take your poem in any direction and then post the image and invitation on your blog if you have one and encourage others to come join the party! (permission is granted to reprint the image if a link is provided back to this post)
On Friday, June 5th, I will draw a name at random from those who participate and send the winner a signed copy of my book Lectio Divina: Contemplative Awakening & Awareness.
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The Poetry Party Theme: Light & Shadow
This week’s theme is in honor of my dear friend lucy with whom I co-facilitate a monthly supervision group using the expressive arts. For our session last week she invited the participants to go on a little photographic journey exploring shadow and light.
I decided to take some of the time to engage in the exercise myself. It was a brilliant day and so shadows abounded. It was fascinating to follow each invitation to the next, noticing where my attention was being drawn. I took a lot of photos of shadows of various things (and I’ll post some of those later in the week) but the image to the right remains my favorite. My own shadow image holding my camera and a beautiful tree. I continue to sit with what I notice about these two shadows in relationship to each other and the illuminated space between us. Summer shadows have a darker intensity and can reveal the shape of things.
In the brilliant light of days growing longer, what do we encounter in the shadows that may have been hidden to us before? What do you discover in the interplay between shadow and light? You can write your poem directly in response to the image, or allow it to be a jumping off point for your own musings on the theme.
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© Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts
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Posted in Poetry Party Invitation | 34 Comments »
June 1st, 2009 at 12:33 pm
The Shadow Knows
Sit under the forbidden tree,
And never mind the tempter.
Gently close your eyes,
And step into the world of shadows.
Sit with them in peace,
And listen with your heart.
They will talk about being ignored,
about being pushed aside,
about being forgotten.
They will say,
‘We bring you mercy and lovingkindness
From the Good Shepherd.
This is why we follow you around.’
Sit and listen with your heart.
They have much to say to you
about your fear of shadows.
Because you have much to learn
about love.
June 1st, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Monkheart, I love your words right from the title — “The Shadow Knows” evokes all kinds of wonder in me. What does the shadow know that I have yet to discover? And so I enter your poem with eagerness and the journey does not disappoint, you invite me in to sit with them without fear or judgment. Thank you Roy!
June 1st, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Light fell
through the trees,
catching me
watching your shadow.
This moment
grasped by Eternity’s reach,
a precious gift
to share with friends.
June 1st, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Like many American males, if I had it to do all over again I’d give my soul to rock & roll.
Shadow & Light
Shadow and light, babe
there’s a change in the weather
Ain’t nothin’ on earth
gonna keep us together
Keep watchin’ the sky
Don’t think of tomorrow
That look in your eye
tells me of your sorrow
I can’t think of one thing
that really has to be done
I can’t think of one race
that really has to be won
Don’t know this country
what’s that language they’re speakin’
It’s getting dark now
it’s the night come a-creepin’
Quick, gimme your hand
I’m taking a fast ride
I see a light shining down
And there’s no place I can hide
The things that I’m leavin’
it’s only you I’ll miss
Come on and lean closer
gimme one last kiss
I can’t think of one thing
that really had to be done
I can’t think of one race
that really had to be won.
June 1st, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Grandmother’s admonishment:
“No need to turn on the light, dear —
Dusk is the most blessed part of the day.”
~ kigen
June 1st, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Me, too
Once
I wrote a poem
and then closed it up
in a black bound notebook
where it kept its silence
for months or years.
When the page fell open again
the words rose up
dancing before my eyes
and I wondered about
the mysterious creature
who had written them.
Who is she?
Have I even begun
to know her?
She is the cool summer morning
and the quiet autumn twilight
that I wait longingly for
but whose presence
I will never command.
And now I sit here
in the still of the morning
my sharpened yellow pencil
beside the empty page
tuning my ears
to the sound of her voice
so much wiser
and more beautiful
than my own.
June 1st, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Mr. Linky seems to be causing trouble all over the internet. Mr Linky is on the blinky.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:33 am
Brief Encounter
Seeing her
cut me to the core like a razor
to the wrist a one-second
glance through lenses
surrounded by black
head to toe. And
the elevator door closed.
She disappeared.
My heart stopped,
seized by questions.
What brought you here?
to this mall, this capital
of capitalism?
What do you think
of our half-clad women?
Of our wars? And
how will you eat?
But there will
be no conversation,
no connection. Ever.
I drove home weeping,
my new, “crabapple”
spring suit lying on
the back seat
from Macy’s.
Martha Louise Harkness
June 2, 2009
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:35 am
bonded
i have seen you
playing
building castles
in the sand then
gleefully knocking
them down.
i have seen you
laughing
screaming at
the sudden freeze
of ice-cream toppling
from its perch.
i have seen you
crying
sobbing when
a beloved has
been hurt
senselessly.
i can never escape
the light that
radiates from
you slicing
through my
darkness.
i cannot run
fast enough to
be separated from
the brilliance that
reflects off of
your joy.
you are always there.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:29 am
In each of us are
light and shadow
hope and fear
joy and pain
We live as paradox
holding in tension
conflicting truths
and opposing emotions
What glue holds us
keeps us from flying apart
gives us strength in weakness
and humility with our pride?
What makes us whole
instead of two halves
brings us into the light
paints us with joyous color?
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:42 am
I was just reading in John 1 yesterday – and this photo brought back my thoughts!
John 1:4,5
The man who is the reason of all, the divine purpose for the mundane, contains and emits life – and that life enables true vision and clarity in humanity – just as light allows us to see clearly. That light is ever-present, bringing illumination where there was none – wisdom where foolishness prevailed – the pregnant pause to the silence of noise. The darkness which is merely the absence of this light can never understand it’s enemy, can never know what it means to be enlightened – and it can never overtake or vanquish the light which it cannot understand.
“Unknowing Dark”
Lightless spaces, formed of absence
Never understand their lack
Void of presence, depth or color
No true form, nor hue – but black
“Know thy enemy” said the sages
How can darkness ever know
Light which it can never possess
Absence free of presence’ glow
One man came here bringing purpose
Cosmic purpose, reason ’shrined
Logos in a human body
Man and Deity entwined
Greater than the sum of contents
Life emitted from within
Logos’ paints, creative frenzy
light bursts through the barrier thin
Light of God is ever present
Bringing sight where there was none
Shadowed night and day contrasted
Sunlight – image of the Son
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:32 pm
thank you for the lovely dedication
i am setting aside some time to come back and view the wonderful offerings here. i have my own photo journey offering here:
http://diamondsintheskywithlucy.blogspot.com/2009/06/me-and-my-shadow.html
and here is my modern cinquain
(also seen at lucy creates)
shadow
inky filigreed
contrasting highlighting glorifying
let us be friends
together
xoxooxox
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:18 pm
kigen, what a perfect moment you capture, says so much about grandmother and the dusk.
Rebecca, “Have I even begun to know her?” Yes indeed, such a beautiful ode to your inner poet, the wise and lovely creature that she is.
Martha Louise, powerful words in your brief encounter, the questions still ring in me.
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Terri, these are really beautiful and moving words, such potent images you offer. Thanks so much!
(I signed up to leave comment at your site but hit “add” and nothing would happen)
Grady, really great images, my favorite is “Logos’ paints, creative frenzy / light bursts through the barrier thin” — very powerful and dynamic.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:05 am
Light plays
through the branches,
and try as I might
I cannot
capture her fullness.
Nor can I capture the
depths of shadow that
offer a foil to her brilliance…
…this seeing through a glass
darkly, haunts my abilities to see,
to capture and describe
my desire
to share life is only
partially fulfilled….
…but I offer what I can,
this light,
this shadow,
this picture, and
through them a taste
of true heights ,
and depths,
and life
to come.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:53 am
Shadow and Light
In the deep contrasts of light and dark…
We can always distinguish what is….
In each hue and shadow
Brings us insight and knowledge
It’s the engaging of senses and more
Spirit comes in and moves us
We can experience the light with much brilliance
For the two compliment each other
The places we view and let envelope us within…
These are the gifts given each day to us all..
In the shadow and the light
What is seen, felt and heard
Becomes its own memory
A place that begins to expand within each of us
A world is opened up and engaged in
As the defining lines are sharp and precise
The changing light diffuses the lines and slowly fades away
In the depths of the dark
One speck of light can pour in
With more brilliance than before
The softness than can exude from it too
The subtle change of light shifts us
To a new experience
Renewing us from the ever changing light
The constant change
Immerges within us to bloom again
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:55 am
This is a photograph exhibited at Bellevue Art Museum Spring 2008 entitled “Absolutely No Absolutes”. It is a shot of shadows in high constrast black and white, handprinted in the darkroom by hand “sculpting” the light in the darkness to cull forth the silver on the photo paper.
The title comments on popular philosophy in this day and age, where many do not believe in absolutes, yet is ironic in the contradiction in logic. I heard Ravi Zacharias speak on this in person 1993, Urbana, IL.
It is in the shadow that we know the light. Micah 7:8 Though I sit in darkness the Lord will be my light.
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:55 am
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anitasfineart/2361196477/
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Can the lens and the shadows catch the soul of the tree?
Perhaps it matters little, the capture of the tree’s soul
Yet with the simple effects of shadow and light
The eye may glimpse unexpected pleasure
A treasure of its own, the secret of its own colorful creative soul!
It’s all “about awakening the creative spirit” – isn’t it?
xoxoxox
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Longing for light
http://virtualteahouse.com/blogs/beth/archive/2009/06/04/longing-for-light.aspx
Thanks, Christine!
June 4th, 2009 at 5:42 am
Diane, thanks for these lovely words, such a senses of expansiveness here that I just want to breathe into.
Anita, thanks for sharing this image in response, I love both the photo and the title.
June 4th, 2009 at 6:51 am
Shadow People
our hearts dwell in shadow
as do our brains
and all, all
our miraculous body organs
every red drop of blood
that blesses us with life
dwells in shadow
embrace your shadow
we are shadow people
sustained
defined
called
illuminated
redeemed
shadow people
June 4th, 2009 at 9:00 am
I forgot to mention I posted the poem.
June 4th, 2009 at 9:00 am
This topic reminded me so much of the poem by Robert Louis Stevenson
From Child’s Garden of Verses
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.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.
The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow–
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
And he sometimes goes so little that there’s none of him at all.
He hasn’t got a notion of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close behind me, he’s a coward you can see;
I’d think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!
One morning, very early, before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.
But I did write my own little one.
Shadows grow and shrink
as the world goes round
Shadows from the sky
drop upon the ground
All things have a shadow
this i have found
Also all these shadows
fall yet make no sound
June 4th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Thro’ the wood the buzzard glides
silently from tree to tree
On the canal the darting shadows resolve themselves into dragonflies and damselflies – alighting only for a moment
Shadows big and shadows small
Shadows quick and shadows slow
Shadows dark and shadows light
Shadows
Shadows also in the mind
sometimes of a frightening kind
Shadows follow through our lives
Shadows of things that might…
but shadows also that might not
Shadows big and shadows small
Shadows quick and shadows slow
Shadows dark and shadows light
Shadows
June 4th, 2009 at 10:27 am
http://thisfarbyfaith.blogspot.com/2009/06/poetry-party-35-light-and-shadow.html
June 4th, 2009 at 10:47 am
The Invitation
i speak
for myself
inviting you:
look
listen.
i am the discarded
deemed less than
untold treausre
unnoticed and
unclaimed
i am the texture
of you, landscape
i am the pieces missing
in you, kaleidioscope
i speak
for myself
inviting you:
say welcome.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
We, were shadow and light,
our passion, like blackbirds in flight,
we should have known, we would never get it right.
We were the melding of opposites,
logic’s antithesis,
Time, ceased to exist in our bliss.
You call me at night,
standing in the shadows somewhere,
I can no longer infuse you with light…
I feel the weight of your despair.
I pray that you get stronger,
for it is your battle to fight,
and it is so cold without you…
from this pain, there is no end in sight.
Let the night come,
and swallow the light of this dream.
June 4th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
O Divine Artist,
whose brush creates for us
this perfect blush of burgundy,
these shades of green;
inscribing a delicate calligraphy
of light and shadow,
balanced each to each
as if to say,
see?
Even a shadow can be beautiful;
even a tiny patch of sunlight
can reveal a moment of pure joy…
Let your divine artistry echo in us,
that what we paint or draw,
sing, play or dance –
with pigment, voice, or instrument;
through body, pen or camera –
that each uniquely rendered song of dark and light,
of shadow, shade and flame,
may allow some fortunate observer
to see the spark of divinity that ignites us all.
(NOTE: This poem goes with an image; they are posted together at this address:
http://contemplativephotographer.blogspot.com/2009/05/divine-artistry.html
June 4th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Inward journey
approaching darkness…
Discovering light.
Witnessing holy essence
through self reflection.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Elaine T, “we are shadow people” — I love the invitation to consider how our entire interior life and body is swathed in darkness.
Holly, thanks for sharing both Stevenson’s words and your own about the sublime stillness of shadows.
Joy, such a lovely exploration of the breadth of shadowy possibilities!
Carolyn, I love this line: “I am the texture of you” and the image of a kaleidoscope, welcome me in, indeed!
Claire, I am really moved by the closing line of your poem, let the night swallow has an integrative feeling to me which is very inviting.
Sharie, “witnessing holy essence” — beautiful you!
June 5th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
LIGHT AND SHADOW
each is known
in the presence
of the other
in the blackest
night a white flower
announces itself
at high noon
a desert tree
emerges from shadow
would we know
love without loss?
grief and anger
without hope?
Barbara Gibson
June 6th, 2009 at 11:15 am
It’s one thing to be fashionably late
but to miss the event altogether is another
(except for a quick comment…)
Anyway there are a few words brewing still,
here tis…
I thought he was insane
this man in the amber dark
cajoling and flirting
encouraging us all
His hands waved
shook and flitted
fingers wagged
fist twisted
A bit of oval paper
glommed onto twirled wire
shaken, not stirred
under the lens’ eye
Amazed and bemused
and somewhat embarrassed
that by an awkward’s magician’s hands
light is carved and shaped
A chef-d’oeuvre is born
from darkness and shadow
and the most strategic of light
bits of hole-y paper in the maker’s hands
The negative of a positive
and flipped again into a negative
The blades, the filters
the dust, the obnoxious dust
Rock and roll and uninhibited curses
friendships and loves made
in that dark
That dark that was truly light
The light that shines on
in the hope that the truth
will overcome the lies
that there are absolutely no absolutes
In the name of the Lord Jesus
we love and we pray
and we remember those
in the dark
June 6th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Well, I too, like Anita, seemed to have missed the event altogether, but can’t resist posting late – since I have been travelling and only returned home Thursday – please allow me this indulgence…
This poem is more about finding some light in a dark time in my life – not sure if it fits into the light & shadow category exactly, but here goes….
“I Danced my Good-Bye’s”
She said to light a candle, and speak of the beauty that lies within….
But I didn’t know the words……
So I danced in the morning – woke the sun from her slumber,
And I cried with the moon shining full in my face,
Laughed with abandon when others just snickered,
Refused to be put in my place….
Tiptoed naked through backyard roses
and sang a love song to myself
Got angry at God, but still let Him love me
in spite of this loss of my health….
I waited for music to stir in my belly
So pregnant with longing and unspoken truths
Admitted my failures and blessed all my triumphs
Traced tender forgiveness through all of my grooves….
Imagined a life full of passion & wonder
Even though I believed more in pain & despair
Dared to walk barefoot into the dark desert
Sunk into silence and met myself there…..
All the while her candle was burning
The words and the melody glowing with pride
Amazed at the birthing so violent and messy
I watched life emerging – while part of me died…..
So fragrant the love my dear Goddess was giving
I drunken & dizzy returned to my home
Discovered a mother, a father, a lover
Inside my own bosom – a place all my own…..
Divorced from the need for a husband to soothe me
The ache of his leaving beginning to fade
I suckled the new woman wailing & weeping
Changed funeral proceedings into a parade….
And where was this woman so fearful & needy
Who used to regard me with desperate eyes?
She was not abandoned, her moon was still shining
In the light of her fire – I danced my good-byes….
And here I am standing with beauty so welcome
And how can I speak looking full in her face?
She smiles and then winks with mischevious compassion
“I think you’ve just spoken with the help of God’s Grace….!”