In the White Light of the Lantern
Welcome to Sunday Poetry. We began last Sunday, and if you didn’t join us then, you can read about the purpose and inspiration behind Sunday Poetry here.
What’s your part? It’s easy. Just slow down a little and come along for the read. If you’d like to tell us what the day’s poem means in your life, or what word or phrase you’ve chosen to reflect on, or where those reflections have taken you, we would be honored. But there are no demands or imperatives. The photo on today’s blog will appear each Sunday along with a poem’s link. Out of respect for copyright, I won’t be posting the poem of the day on the blog, but it will be just one easy click away. If I have something to add, I will. If you have something to add, please do.
This week’s poem is Hand Shadows, by Mary Cornish, found on the Poetry 180 website. Enjoy.
I’ve been thinking about this poem since I chose it earlier in the week. It’s deceptively simple, but like all good poetry, it’s taken me in a number of directions. Most important I’ve spent the week thinking about which of my life goals are “hand shadows” and which would stand up under the scrutiny of the “white light of a lantern.” It’s particularly applicable, too, to a character in the book I’m working on now. This one’s been “illuminating.”
This poem reminds me of Girl Camp when I was a kid. I loved it when we lived on Clark AFB in the PI and the airmen out up the big green tents for us to camp in. We would do shadow puppets on the wall with our hands after lights out and tell ghost stories. I remember birds flying across the tent, and the fun and laughter.
Haven’t thought of that in years. Will have to write this one inmy scrap book along side pictures taken during one of those camp outs.
Love that you are doing this Emilie.
I love that this sparked a happy memory for you.
I like this one… reminds me of fun times with my Dad when we were younger… we made sheet tents draped between chairs and camped in the living room and he would “scare” us with shadows!
Emilie, I really love this poem. The descriptions were so well done that I could almost see them. Brings back fond memories of childhood. Thank you for sharing these and for bringing us to a point that we can learn to love poetry.