Monday, September 01, 2008

A Shadow on the Sand


Sometimes -
despite my petty arrogance
or my funny wailings -
I get this absolute
certitude
that I am
but
a shadow
on the sand.
I fear the wind then,
that caresses
the smallest cloud,
and a sunset,
instead of filling me
with beauty,
absolutely terrifies
me.

Only sometimes…

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

wonderfully weaved words worth written!

Vesper said...

Thank you, C.S., it's so nice seeing you here...

Bernita said...

I feel the same. Frequently.

Anonymous said...

Very beautiful. And, bonus points for poetry that a dummy like me can actually understand :)

Vesper said...

It's good to know that I'm not alone, Bernita. :-)

Thank you, Paul! :-)

BernardL said...

Shadows on the sand provide shade for others, Vesper. :)

Anonymous said...

Powerful, Vesper. I was struck by how a shadow can never be blown away, but the shape of it mutates underneath you as the shape of the sand transforms.

Unknown said...

Was the second one taken in Greece?

SzélsőFa said...

I like the label and the way the feeling is captured. I'm so glad to see myself back into your words and images, Vesper.

As for shadows...
Shadows are proofs that there is a Sun.

Unknown said...

Beautiful images and poignant words, Vesper.

Vesper said...

Uplifting point, Bernard, thank you! :-)

Thank you, Jason. I remember that famous photo with shadows of camels on the sand. It was taken from directly above them, and from very high, so one could hardly notice the camels but their shadows on the dunes were fascinating.

Ropi, it's still from Mexico.

Szelsofa, thank you, and I'm so glad to see you back... The Sun, yes, that's good to remember, always...

Vanilla, thank you so much!

Sarah Hina said...

You captured the horror of our slightness here, Vesper. How we sometimes step outside of ourselves, and see how small and insignificant we really are. Those are chilling moments.

You're much more than a shadow, though. These powerful words are testament to that.

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Wonderful photos and powerful words. I felt like you were writing this about me. I truly feel this way sometimes, but I don't think it is a bad thing. It is just recognizing how small we are in the grand scheme of the universe. And yet we are so very important too. Did that make any sense?

Vesper said...

Thank you, Sarah. Our slightness, yes, that's a well-chosen word... Maybe our power resides also in the capability of realising our slightness...

Ello, thank you! Yes, it made a lot of sense. I feel exactly the same.

Anonymous said...

You've probably been told by enough people now...but that's fantastic :)

Vesper said...

Thank you, Gladehaven!
(It's never enough...) :-)