Monday, February 20, 2017

More Extras





       I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community. It's always a pleasure to read what everyone writes about their lives.
         
        Last week I wrote about "looking for extras", those sly peeks into our lives that often go unnoticed. And I wrote about rabbits! This past week I fell in love with a poem shared by Irene Latham in her Poetry Friday post last week. In it, she shared an older anthology of poems and stories from Mexico gathered by Naomi Shihab Nye. And this one poem, "Night In The Kitchen" means "extras" to me, something I would never have noticed.  You'll have to travel to Irene's post to see the whole poem because I don't have permission to share, but the line that struck me speechless is about peas coming out of a pod, "quick green shadows".  I take many pictures of shadows, love the way so many things catch my eye when casting their shadows. And now I will look for those neglected, like those from peas.

Today, my youngest granddaughter spent a few hours with me while her mother and older sister went to a movie. We spent much of the time at my nearby park. And shadows came into my life again. There is a part of the park where concerts occur, and a large round platform in the middle for speakers and singers. Imogene immediately popped up there and began dancing, and said, "Look, I'm dancing with my shadow." 

It is those extras that bring smiles every day, isn't it?  Even those of peas!


28 comments:

  1. What a lovely poem! I missed last Poetry Friday so thank you for sharing it.
    This line: "And now I will look for those neglected, like those from peas." Has struck me. The neglected shadows. Something to look for indeed.

    And another thought. We often reflect on our lives. Maybe we should also consider the shadows we cast.

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    1. Thanks, Julieanne, and I love that final idea, another one to ponder in our lives.

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  2. Dancing with shadows at first sounds like a scary theme, from your slice it becomes a playful experience.

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    1. Yes, I guess we could take those three words and end up in various places, couldn't we? Thanks, Terje.

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  3. I love images of shadows dancing ... perfect!
    Kevin

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  4. Dancing with shadows. Neglected moments. Wow! Beautiful.

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    1. Thanks, Michelle, time to be searching to prep for March, right?

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  5. I love the way you are able to capture your granddaughter's exuberance in these shadow pictures...but those kinds of pictures have really become your specialty, Linda - I'm imagining a book of your poems set to your shadow photographs!

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    1. I am certainly in love with shadows, Tara. Perhaps it's time to take another look at them. Thanks for the nudge!

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  6. There are so many things in our lives that we take for granted and overlook, but you have shared one that I will look for. Love the picture of your granddaughter dancing with her shadow. Let the sun shine so we can all create shadows!

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    1. Thanks, Judy, this "shadow" theme seems like it could be far-reaching. I'll keep looking for more, I'm sure!

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  7. Maybe this is a taste of things to come. Your granddaughter might have a career on the stage. Shadows do make such interesting patterns and are constantly changing as the light source shifts. They are really interesting to watch. Great pictures.

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    1. She does love her dancing, is a whirl in moving. Thanks, glad you enjoy shadows, too.

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  8. I love "I'm dancing with my shadow." Made me think: We make the shadows with which we dance. Pondering a pairing between "dancing with my shadow" and the "song [that] still sings."

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    1. I know, and I didn't share here, but did sing the parts I remember for Imi. And there is that Stevenson poem, "My Shadow". Thanks, Alice.

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  9. Imogene's shadow is just as precious as she is! So lovely that the two of you had special time together.

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    1. Thanks, Stacey, it's always a pleasure to be with the grand-girls!

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  10. I agree with Tara....I see a book of grandaughter poems coming together. If not for publication, for a special birthday or milestone. You are so fortunate to spend time with them. My kids lost my Mom when they were much younger. I miss what could have been with her....it's a shadow in my life that I also dance with. Your shadows are much happier.

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    1. Time to get going, right? I created a book for all the family a year ago with "goodbye" poems, about the grandchildren as I saw them growing up. It was lovely to do. Thanks, Linda.

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  11. Dancing with shadows, nothing better.

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    1. I was so tickled that she said that. She is a mover, takes ballet & is much in love with it. Thanks, Margaret.

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  12. Dancing with her shadow - what an irrepressible spirit! Imi's love of movement is captured in your pics. And we are the beneficiary of your shadow love. Just seeing your shadow pics has made me more aware of shadows at play.

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    1. Thank you, Ramona. Imi loves to move, and this was a beautiful example of her spirit, you are right. Yes, those shadows intrigue me. We explored a lot, see when they disappeared into the darker, bigger shadows, and so on. You don't need a lot to play when outdoors.

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  13. I love shadows, too. What a fabulous place for your granddaughter to have fun with shadows - and you at the ready to take a great photo!

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  14. I always love your shadow photos and this one with your granddaughter is precious.

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