Silhouette Comments
If the silhouette could speak it would
Say the real shadow is flesh and bone
That separates you from the real world
...
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Top marks and I am going to fav this poem if I can find where to do that! ! ! ! !
Susan, I so much appreciate your comments. I am always gratified (and beyond expression) when a few of my words can move someone.
While the ethereal toils with form and gravitas It is gravity that digs the etheric from the soil Of sleep and fills up the heavens- - - -there is a classic air to the choice of words and how they are woven complexly into each other, complex but entirely readable. Like so many of your poems this deserves to be honored as Poem of the Day at least. I am glad you are here to demonstrate depth and elegance.
If the silhouette could speak it would Say the real shadow is flesh and bone That separates you from the real world- - - - - - Now that is the way to begin a poem. WoW! ! ! That brought my reading to a sudden halt while I reread (a) the power and majesty of these 3 lines, and (b) delve into the philosophy and truth of these lines. Mj, you are a major poet
Silhouette is such a friendly word to me- in elementary school we would stand in front of white paper in a dim room and draw the shadow flung on the paper and we were so proud of our pictures and would run home to show our Mom and Dads. Then I grew up and a silhouette was a sinister shadow lurking in a dark deserted street. But I never once waxed philosophical- - I needed a friend like you to open my horizons. 10++++
Susan, you brought back memories...I remember drawing that shadow. We always did that in Fall, in the first few early grades and K. Thinking about that time, I wonder if the teachers thought about any connections between shadows, Fall, and the idea of transitions? Thanks so much, Susan.
with the loneliness I feel, the silhoutte is a friend and will always feel protected when i see mine
A tremendous insight, Leeann. The silhouette may be the companionship of humanity that manages to overwhelm loneliness.
Here I feel that you sound Plato's Theory of Realism. According to him the physical world is only a shadow of the true reality.....and every art form a shadow of a shadow! The real is that which transcends time and space. The reality lies in ideas or forms touching the realm of the spirit or soul. Indeed this poem is based on a deep metaphysical concept which is beyond the grasp of ordinary poets like us
Beautful train of thought. Keep the orginality coming. Thanks for penning such a imaginative poem
Greatly inspiring intelligent work and praiseworthy...thank you Lemon...you are a great poet
A gorgeous metaphor has been inscribed by you incisively. It is my pleasure reading it time and again. Thank you again for sharing this gem with us.
It was there but no one saw it the way you did, challenging, provoking and left me dazed for quite awhile.Thanks Mj
Thank you, Loke. Hope all the fallout from your reaction was positive. Again, thank you so much.
I love this! From the perspective of a shadows shadow, this is a fascinating piece of work, very creative!
Such an interesting philosophical perspective you've presented us in a shadow, a silhouette (a beautiful word, by the way!) . It is interesting to turn our generally conceived notions upside down. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, Jette. There is some deliberate mashing up of John Donne and expressionism. I think I may have detected some expressionism in your terrific work. Thanks again.
It is a great philosophical poem with wonderful penmanship. The way of presentation is fantastic. It may be quoted....... If the silhouette could speak it would Say the real shadow is flesh and bone That separates you from the real world Thanks for sharing.
this poetry and its philosophy is just unbelievable...the subtle art used here to craft these lines is just amazing... If the silhouette could speak it would Say the real shadow is flesh and bone That separates you from the real world these lines are wonderful....they explain indeed what is beauty in real great work...u have always been an inspiration!
If the silhouette could speak it would Say the real shadow is flesh and bone That separates you from the real world' I found the openning stanza amazing, so much in life from radio television waves to bacteria is unseen, so much beyond the range of our sight and hearing; so much within the universe still unknown to humanity.
This poem speaks to the soul for you go into the body searching for its meaning. Are you saying that gravity works on us differently. I found it interesting the way you use gravity in this poem because we are not aware of it, just as it is with the silhouette. I found myself practically trying to live this poem. I love The use of all these elements of life, shadow and being. The way you put them together lives one with unanswered questions.
Sarah, Thank you again. Yes, I actually do mean that gravity has an effect on all of us, and we each experience it, just perhaps, in slightly different ways. I also use gravity to convey the idea of those unseen and perhaps unfelt causes of our thoughts, and willed and unwilled behaviours. Force is unseen, yet it moves teh universe. Perhaps force, a reality, only appears to us in the form of shadow, or through the manifestation of physical objects,
An interesting poem. Its style and word flow takes you into the the mystery world of the shadow and leaves wanting more. Your poetry craft is wonderful.
Thank you, Sarah. I am also moved by your work, and shall return to your poetry again and again.
And from up in heaven, Bukowski smiles as Lemon toils with form and gravitas. Keep up the great work M.J.
Thank you so much, Richard. I hope I am getting closer and closer to Buk.
The real world lies beyond the veil and what we see is merely the shadows of reality.... Mj, you have got yourself a metaphysical tiger by the tail here but you are not only over-powering it, you've got us readers jumping in there too. What an intelligent, provoking, poetic poem you have penned here. I want more of these philosophic poems but be aware my brain may need kick-starting because it has gotten lazy and rusty and plebeian and altogether humdrum . Loved the stimulation of a fine author at work here. 10++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Susan, Thank you so very much. Yes, there will be more coming. I'm working on 3 poems now (I take such a long time! !) and one of them is also the result of an inspiration found while reading philosophy. Thanks again! And I'll be checking back at your page sometime this weekend....
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7/28/2025 2:07:48 AM # 1.0.0
You sir are the bestest poet ever read Congrats This poem is MARVELOUS
Gracias! Much appreciated, Poet!