Monday, June 20, 2011

Penumbra

By Joseph Hesch

Facing east, I feel the warm glow
of new day on my face,
like a good kind of embarrassment.
Trailing behind me, night has receded
to its western rest,
except for the me-shaped piece
I must have stepped on when I got up
this morning that is attached to my heels.
I can’t shake this lazy, laid-down
reminder that even in brightest times,
darkness is always just a step away.
If I followed that shadow, always
just behind that penumbral meridian,
could I hold off the coming of darkness?
No, I think I’ll face this day,
knowing that when night finally creeps back,
oozing over the eastern horizon, I’ll lay down,
attaching myself  to the shadows,
reminding them that day and I
are only resting, and we’ll be
shining again come dawn.

18 comments:

  1. Love this! Love this! Love this! "I'll lay down, attaching myself to the shadows"...Joe, this is so up my ally! This, to me, seems to be written in a somewhat different tone...it is a confident pen that has presented this I think. I will stop trying to catch up on comments now, and finish my day on this high note. You've won tashtoo's office share! :)

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  2. love the deceptively easy-going rhythm and conversational bent of this poem-- good to read you today! xxxj

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  3. I love the idea of the glow of sunshine being like a good form of embarrassment! Great poem.

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  4. nice....we can not deny the shadows, but we also dont need to succumb to them as well...nicely penned joe

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  5. Inspiring, Joe.
    "like a good kind of embarrassment.
    Trailing behind me, night has receded
    to its western rest,"
    By this point I was completely lulled into the poem which turned awesome when reaching "just behind that penumbral meridian." You express that speculation that follows wonderfully, and poetically.

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  6. Everybody's been stirred by the solstice it seems...and rightly so, I suppose. Easy pace, engaging voice - an image painted with tone, rhythm, and poise. Splendid ending...

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  7. Wonderful write Joe

    "except for the me-shaped piece
    I must have stepped on when I got up
    this morning that is attached to my heels."

    Exceptional lines, much enjoyed! ~ Rose

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  8. This looks and reads deceptively simple. What makes it shine is that it isn't so simple at all...that's the best part.

    A wonderful write indeed, Joe.

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  9. Always a dawn through the shadows, nice one.

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  10. the me-shaped piece
    I must have stepped on when I got up

    That's something I wish I would have thought of. And that "good kind of embarrassment" is like a jolt of coffee in the morning. This is a sober, clear-eyed way to greet the day.

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  11. Wow. I love this from beginning to end.

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  12. I think this is my favorite so far of yours. Really love the whole idea here, and I can certainly relate to the feelings throughout. Just wonderful.

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  13. your wordplay is masterful as ever--the way you describe the shadow as a "me-shaped piece of night" is purely brilliant. here you've got me even wondering whether there might just be a "good" kind of embarrassment...

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  14. Me and my shadow...and the shades of darkness that are always a split second away from swallowing us up. Very imaginative, thought provoking; enjoyed it!

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  15. Jingle appreciates your support to our poetry potluck.
    Our week 41 Theme is: Saints, Monks, and Meditations,
    Yet, old poems or poems unrelated to our theme are welcome… ;)
    Always, your poetry is sunshine to us!
    Looking forward to seeing U on Sunday, 8pm or later.
    Stay Blessed,
    Love and hugs.
    xoxox

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  16. This is really great - I can really feel the words, something I can relate to.

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