Shadow-Play

"X"

The shadows in the corners of the room
whisper my name
they are the same shadows
by alley ways,
            behind tombstones
       underneath beds
inside my head

over the plains

the highest and whitest of clouds
cast darkest hues

the brightest of suns

i think of you

                         the whispers get louder
                         the curtains flutter
                         the air turns colder

somewhere a murmur

                         shhh

be still   be still  my dear

the rope hanging in the attic
                        the vague visions through the static
                                    the tremors of the addict

shhh
  be still
      my dear

                          love casts its pallor
                                blood on pale collar 
                                  i hear you call her
 

                   by candle lights
                        as rain drops
                               and winds howl
                                       and wood creaks


      
               icy razors lay on warm tubs
                            guillotines fly through the air                
                    birds fall from thick heights
               like notes of despair


don't shake your head
it will all end
soon
in the corner of the room
where the shadows call out your name
like the wind sweeps the rain


               pull out a smoke
                    drag over a chair
                          sit by the window
                            and stare


 there is the world    there is the world
   you are not a part of
                there is the world
            full of cruel love
        there the children laughing and playing
 like you never have
or ever could

   its' understood

                  the rain floods into gutters
                       the once crisp leaves drift
                          they sog and they shudder 
                          from spring-autumn skies
                                 down down sewage drains
                                     all truths mask in lies
                                          all love in pain      

shhh  shhh

 the shadows the shadows

   they whisper my name.

Reviews

[Rachael Lea]

creating shadows with your words
recreating the allure the shadows seductively call to you seemingly absurd
still creating images of longing,
things calling out to you as well, that are not in the shadows no sense of belonging.
yet the shadows win as they pull you in.
reminding you of emptiness, making you feel grim.
telling you to pull up that chair.
reminding you of all of your despair.
to do what exactly? To torture you? To bring to you an opaque light?
as you continue trying to decipher wrong from right?
who is to win do you know?
will you let the shadows continue to grow?
as you search for answers longing for something that's not there.
painfully crafting your fragile world with gentle and loving care.
the answer is up you on how to decide.
whether or not you choose to confide.
giving in to the enticing tone of voice
may or may not cause in you to rejoice
the answer is truly one that is up in the air
choose it however you will, do not live in despair.
If shadows are your foe
make the wise decision to make them go
though if shadows are where its at
well embrace it fully, like a diplomat
enjoy your life either way is what I must say
give it your all, live for today


Okay so I wasn't meaning to write like that but it just sort of came out. I guess its obvious that I like this as well. You really are talented. Very nicely written. Though I am left wanting to know more as you can very well tell. Very thought inducing and inspiring.

[Alessander]

Thanks Rachael. Man, I must've missed this review. You're prolly long gone now, but appreciate you're in depth thoughts.

[stellasautelle]

wonderful! keep up the good work :)

[Red]

Get off Writer's Cafe and get this s**t published.

[Ms. Gruye]

interesting use of "play" in the title and how you were playful through out this write. The rhyme schemes changing, the meter, the spacing. Your words were solid in imagery and clean at the same time, as per your norm. What I very much enjoyed was the spritely manner of play. Very steam punk of you, sir, now kindly release the Kraken.

[Heavyhearted]

you write like picasso painted in his blue period... before his selfish side took over. this is my favorite work of yours so far, but this is expected since im a sucker for darkness. doesn't feel as strong as it did in my head. i wish to convey what i felt but words fail me today... "it was heavy" is all that comes out. i had no favorite part. it struck me as a whole, a sinking world drenched in violet rain.

[Ruth]

Bloody hell! lol I have to say love, you have designed something from "ShadowPlay" in its own unique right! This could be the sister version that the brother version needed! lol

The inner vision, the crisis over boiling internally, the rope, unseen but lingering with intent, the utter loss and defeat as the shadows gather, consume, plot and conceal all light!

Breathtaking, claustrophobic, painful and yet liberating, one of my favourites and down right talent! lol

xx

[Aimee Mahathy]

Wow, this is awe-inspiring! While I'm not a HUGE fan of very irregularly formed poems, this one is perfect. The spaces convey much-needed breaks and the off-starting of lines are wonderful. The reflections are so horrifically true that I shudder like those soaked leaves.
Wonderful!

[Daniel Soloye]

Incredible
I love the way that you are structure this poem with artistic value but at the same time link it with your Display images
I particular like this line
icy razors lay on warm tubs
guillotines fly through the air
birds fall from thick heights
like notes of despair


don't shake your head
it will all end
BRAVO!

[Tony]

I like the shape this took-- very jazz like. Improptu looking but structured and taking us for an artistic up/down steplike journey-- kinda has a chaotic feel too, I mean it really shakes the reader up.
I like the ambient atmosphere you create with the color or shadow imagery-- and the alliteration of the "shhh" sound with the word "shadows" compliments the whole dark quality.
Someone wants it quiet-- the word shadows has a shhh sound in it. Henceforth it's quiet in the shadows. This quiet or death is highly inviting to that person. Well, just my little take on the shhh and the shadows. Hypnotic final stanza anyway you look at it. Oh yes, in a poem of shadows the contrast of the line "the brightest of suns" has an incredible impact.

[Mark]

A. Joy Division song called shadowplay, possible reference B. the rope in the attic visions in static tremors of the addict line is perfect C. the guillotine flying through the air line is not D. Any other writer would have made a cliche out of this but you have retained your usual originality. E. love it

[Brad]

alessander, this has got to be your best yet, definitely putting this into my faves...thank you, sir