It's Poetry Friday. Hosting is the Rogue Anthropologist, Kara Newhouse. Stop by Kara's blog for today's poetry links.And stop by Two Writing Teachers also to read other posts this Friday, number 14 of 31 days!
We do have many sunny days in Colorado, but last Saturday was a day that offered a true taste of spring. It was in the seventies, and everyone was out, walking, jogging, bicycling in shorts and tees. It was that wonderful kind of day! So I went walking too, with my phone (my only camera), and in the late afternoon to see if I could catch some shadows. I started being interested in shadows because one blogger that I read joins a meme called ShadowShot Sunday. I don't participate, but I love to see Beverley's photos every Sunday! You can find one example here!
The first shadow is inside my house as the sun crosses to the opposite wall of the dining room; the last when the shadows become less distinct, the sun is leaving. My favorite is the one of the tree shadows on the back of my home.
And then I went walking through the internet looking for a shadow poem, thinking of the children's poem "My Shadow" by Robert Lewis Stevenson, which begins "I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me" found here. It's a lovely poem for children, and reminds me of the playing with shadows I do with my granddaughters.
And, I found this beautiful poem and hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Are They Shadows
by Samuel Daniel
Are they shadows that we see?
And can shadows pleasure give?
Pleasures only shadows be
Cast by bodies we conceive
And are made the things we deem
In those figures which they seem.
But these pleasures vanish fast
Which by shadows are expressed;
the rest is here!
51 comments:
Sunny days in the Northwest are a special treasure. The shadow pics are so interesting. I'll be watching for you next week on March Madness Poets. Don't you wonder about that first word?
Yes, I wonder and hope it will connect something fast! Thanks for stopping by, Ramona. You are up late!
I love those photos of shadows. What an interesting idea!! Can't wait to read your poem. I know it will be great!
You capture those shadows beautifully even with just a cell phone camera! I loved that Stevenson poem when I was young and like the one you included here too.
I remember my daughter getting a college brochure from Colorado that explained that they have over 300 sunny days in a year! We were both hooked at that moment (in the middle of Mi winter). She ended up staying home, but shadows are so much fun. I love your pictures. The whole idea of focusing on one aspect and then presenting the pictures the way you did--along with the poem--beautiful!
Some gorgeous Colorado sunshine this week! And your shadow pictures are interesting. I'll be looking for you on March Madness.
Shadow shapes intrigue me too. The shadows on the house really caught my attention in your montage. Interesting how fuzzy they become as the sun weakens. Great poem you found to go with the pictures.
Thanks Michelle. Your words are like big cheers! Glad you like the shadows!
Thank you, Lee Ann. Happy you enjoyed them!
Thanks Jaana, yes we have lots of sunny days, and relish them!
Nice and clear too this week too, I agree. Thanks Carol!
Thanks Elsie-I liked that one on the house a lot! Glad you enjoyed the poem.
You reminded me of a shadow photo I took last month at my son's house. It just presented itself as a good photo and maybe writing piece. Linda, your mind is always working at so many things. Do you sleep?
So love the closing lines...a reflection upon the worth of shadows and much else, too:
Take it sudden as it flies,
Though you take it not to hold.
When your eyes have done their part,
Thought must length it in the heart.
I hope you share your own shadow pic, Tam. I love seeing them. Yes, I do sleep, am just busy!
Isn't that lovely? So glad you enjoyed it Tara. I was excited to find it! The words are simply wonderful!
What a lovely post -- I'd never thought of shadows in quite that way -- a different, transient kind of beauty. Great photos and poem. Stevenson's "My Shadow" was the first childhood poem I really loved. Envy your glorious warm and sunny Saturday :).
Interesting, when I think of shadow as a word by itself, I conjure scary sort of images, yet together with sun light, shadow becomes playful. I like your collage.
Thanks Jama, there was more than one poem about "shadows", but I did love this old one, and the discovery.
Thank you Terje, happy you're looking at the shadows in a different way now!
I love the shadow idea - I have a few photos of shadows but now I am going to work on capturing shadows for awhile. Just not today - we are all clouds and grey.
Wonderful, Joanne. Happy I've started you on your way!
I will be looking for shadows today because of your post! What a great idea.
Thank you, Caroline! Hope there are some good ones!
No shadows for us today but clouds and a bit a rain. Maybe shadows tomorrow. Thanks for the poem. Good luck Monday!! I get my word as well.
Thank you for the quiet time thinking of shadows. Good Luck in the March Madness Poetry play-offs.
Thanks Jone-I'll look for you & your poem! Good luck!
Thanks Joy-I'm happy you enjoyed the shadows. I imagine the cacti offer some beautiful ones, too!
I think from pre-school on, they are fascinating, aren't they, Latisha? I love looking for unusual ones, and also love playing with them with my granddaughter. I know Maureen did some shadow work with her students. Is that the teacher you mean? The stick shadows were such fun!
Hooray! March Madness!!!! I'll be cheering for you, Linda! I loved the photo of inside your house with the chairs, and the poem sort of goes with it--makes me imagine who is there. Your granddaughters are at a fun age to play with shadows--enjoy!
All the best with your March Madness endeavors, my friend!
What a treat...shadow pics and a beauty that I have never heard. I personally loved playing in the shadows with an overhead projector! Enjoy the wonderful weather. xo
You've captured so many lovely shadows Linda! Trouble is - once you start you're addicted! lol
Thanks for the link as well. I'd never seen that poem - loved it.
Thanks Melanie, for the wishes especially, and yes, I've had fun playing with shadows with the granddaughters, too. I'm glad you like the poem.
Thanks Diane, I hope our writing together with Laura, & me reading everyone's wonderful poems will help! Depends totally on whether I connect with the word!
I just saw a post last week where they used the overhead for some pre-school fun. We used to do hand shadows too-remember? Thanks, Nancy!
I was excited about the poem, too Beverley-what a gem! And yes, it's all because of your lovely pics, I am addicted, look everywhere for good ones! I was happy to share who started me noticing!
Your weather is Denver seems to change as quickly as ours in central Ohio. :) Your photos are lovely. Capturing shadows is an interesting perspective and the poem is so nice too. have a great weekend Linda.
WE are seeing glimpses of what you see on the east coast as yet another storm bears down upon us ...yet I find such hope and empowerment in your post tonight. Thank you.
Thanks Julie-yes, it's been lovely the past couple of days, & then a quick snow is coming tomorrow afternoon, then out again. Hope your weekend is a good one too!
Thanks Anita, yes I know another is on its way-we have a 'wee' one tomorrow afternoon, then out again. Very strange winter for all of us! I hope your weekend has some good things in it!
We have a new paint job on our white house and the shadows are fun to see. I may have to take some shots and piggy back on your post. Hope the sun is out this weekend. Spring is peeking out.
I took some shadow pictures not too long ago. Shadows on snow are fun, and there are so many neat shadows before the leaves come out. I've always been a big fan of Stevenson. I've always loved "My Shadow".
Good luck on your poem writing for March Madness 2014. It's going to be hectic, isn't it?
Wouldn't it be wonderful to see the shadows on your house now? Yes, I'm seeing a few daffodils here and there. You should be well ahead of us! Enjoy the weekend!
I posted a few snow shadows earlier this year-they are so neat to see. Someday I'd love to have a camera good enough to take moon shadow pics-they're lovely as well. Yes, Monday is my day (evening), but I have a very full day-ugh. I am hopeful! Will look for you and send you good vibes! Thanks for taking the time-I know you're busy, busy with that toddler!
I loved your shadow photos the minute I saw them, Linda. But when I finished reading Daniel's poem, I was blown away by these lines:
"When your eyes have done their part,
Thought must length it in the heart."
His words perfectly capture the work of a poet. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks Catherine. So happy you liked both, but I was so in love with this poem too, just wonderful.
I relish in the idea of going on a quest to find and record shadows. I don't know if you've ever read Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, but this sounds like the perfect artist date to me. Thanks for the inspiring post, Linda.
I know of The Artist's Way, Michelle, but still have never read it. Thanks for connecting it to this.
I hadn't thought of shadow in such a way, Linda. Your posts and the poetry you share always make me think. Thank you! = )
You're welcome, Bridget. Happy to hear this post added some new ideas.
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