My Shadow Man

 

My beautiful father figure

A shadow man

like putty in my hands I mold you in perfection you lack

I see you in the ways of others

a glimpse of a man whose arms are strong and steady

the smell of wood shavings and car oil wafting aromatically

a smoky scent enters my nostrils

absorbed all too willingly by my senses

I am frozen in awe of you

voice booming to the distant pews

of my mind

tickling my fantasies in your playful nature.

I’ve painted you time and time again

each instance tweaking the picture

making you that much clearer and closer

to my arms

I pass a stranger and his eyes smile at me

glowing

making me melt

sending smoke signals up to my mind

and suddenly I realize

my shadow man smiles like that.

He’s old and gentle like my grandfather

kind and wise like my mother

strong and silent

like a clandestine man

sitting solemnly at a barstool

lifting his cup to his lips

swallowing the last succulent drip of happiness…

I reach in like a child leaping in the arms

of her beautiful father figure

the one my shadow man mirrors

Reviews

[Michael X]

this writing speaks in many directions, in the way it coveres the multitude as an array of emotions, desiring what heart needs, as one reads, the imagery comes to

life in a way that awakens the senses, in the same way memories have the way of creating solace places, where idea conforms to thought, and thought becomes action,

the invention of yearning, one can fully feel the intention in the first 3 lines,
to mold, to show new perspectives, to mirror a kindred spirit, you have a way

with wording that never ceases to amaze the reader, quality and detail.
Take Care, Mike

I pass a stranger and his eyes smile at meglowingmaking me meltsending smoke signals up to my mindand suddenly I realizemy shadow man smiles like that.

[Jen Lauren]

This has a very lovely flow and it emits a sense of happiness between the lines. I really enjoyed it.

[KUFU]

This is just, right.
You paint a dreamscape of all the machinations of masculinity. The strength. The doubt. The foolishness. The love.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

This is incredible work.. I feel it reflects a woman who falls for a man similar to her father but right or wrong such a well put together poem.

[TL Boehm]

beautifully written, bittersweet and almost 'lonely' - it has a three dimensional quality - like a word sculpture. Well done.

[BrightEyes]

this is full of such amazing imagery - painting pictures of light and darkness combined. at times I felt this shadow man mirrored one perhaps not light; living in darkness - then other times - felt him a reflection of the light - yet not fully realizing it. amazing write here - nicely done.

[Emily B]

This is amazing stuff. . .

wow!

[Raef C. Boylan]

Wow Spoken, this is amazing. Some of the descriptive lines are really skilful and make great use of language. The topic itself is interesting and you share it with us thoroughly.

"I am frozen in awe of you
voice booming to the distant pews
of my mind" - great metaphor.

"like a clandestine man
sitting solemnly at a barstool
lifting his cup to his lips
swallowing the last succulent drip of happiness" - really vivid image.

This is one to be proud of for sure. I'm not you, so the exact meaning of this "shadow man" escapes me, but I enjoyed reading this an being challenged by your words.
Great write. Thanks for sharing it with us.

p.s.
"a glimpse of a man who's arms are strong and steady" [who's = whose]

[Loribeth215]

the shadow every woman searches for.... beautiful write. I loved the gentleness of this.

[Antony]

This is so beautiful in all that it says. I can feel a warmth in the words you write, a tender moment in your mind, so well expressed and very deep.

Tony