Shadows

still not really a story but at least its fairly long :)

I think of a shadow as the dark side of the moon of people. As humans we cover our feelings and stature, but if you look fully at a shadow you can really tell more about the person than from any friendly conversation. A shadow is all your troubles and problems pushed away yet always in the back of your mind. The problem with a shadow is that it doesn't matter how much you think of something else or shelve it away it will all ways be right behind you gently nibbling at your heels.

A person can learn to develop a mask to make it easier, and hide their emotions from the general public, but their shadow will always give them away. Even if you are standing as tall as you can, and trying your hardest to look confident and ready for the day your shadow can show your true feelings. There’s just something about it, the shadow just looks wrong, out of place and like a fake. It’s like holding a forged note, you can’t always say what, but there is something out of place, out of proportion and one little thing that just doesn't fit. I always think that a fake reflection and a hidden shadow looks bigger than most, like there is more behind the story, imprisoned in a person’s feeling of aloneness and embarrassment. I have to question our society’s supposed morals of freedom and the ability to think, do or be or whoever you want.

You do have to wonder what kind of sick, twisted society pressures people into not wanting help and being left alone with the dark shadow of yourself, a perfect reflection that looks like you, is you, it has perfect timing and the perfect outline, but wrong. To leave someone with a dark copy full of the doubt, worries and troubles they may have dragging from their ankles is just wrong. I guess our reason for this is that we are so wrapped up in our own lives worried about us and how we are going to turn out, but in a weird and hypocritical way.  While we don’t want anyone to be anywhere near anything emotional, and shut them out completely, we constantly seek answers and help in everything in almost everything about us except emotions.

Why is it that we are convinced that we must face our shadow alone? Why must we always be the brave hero equipped with only a sword standing in an abandoned derelict hall, huge white marble columns stretching from ceiling to floor, preparing to face the horrors of our own problems and our own mind? I don’t know the answers to the questions my mind spits out on a conveyor belt, I just wonder how others see my shadow and what I'mhiding deep within mine.

Reviews

[Wez Hardyn]

I particularly like the phrase: 'a dark copy full of the doubt, worries and troubles they have dragging from their ankles' - a shadow bearing the alienation and fear inherent in contemporary capitalism is a great metaphor. This reads like a poem is trying to get out? I disagree slightly about emotions being culturaly repressed - everyone seems to believe that if they don't emote about something it isn't real! Perhaps your talking primarily about the western working class white male? Good stuff.