Shadow Fire

Submitted  8/28/2015
	I

A glimpse, a flicker: a shadow-movement
Almost seen, unseen barely.
Adumbrated in the dark,
Nimble came, quickly went.

What is this? and what desires?
Where from? Where gone?
A fright, a chill, a fear perhaps,
A fear of hope that long aspires.

A darkling thing – or was it light?
(So it seems to seem to be!) – 
Or was it play of black on black,
Mere flash of black upon the night?


	II

See! Look there! A candle … careful – 
Closer – closer – oh … 'tis gone.
But search, search on, it leads us on;
A moth it is – it seeks for fire.


	III

No flash is this, no dusky flash – 
'Tis light, a presage of the dawn:
Not dawn itsgelf, for dawn yet waits.

It trembles like a fleck of ash
Settled aground, anxious, airy,
In the corner, standing close
Against the wall ... it moves again!
It flutters soft, so soft, so wary.

Shadow of substance, delicate, fine.
What could it be? Why this fear?
Why this dread for a thing so fragile?
Why this wish to make it mine?


	IV

'Tis not a moth, no moth at all – 
Clearer now – less shadowed, hidden.
Quick! The lamp! A light unbidden!
Ah, a bird – no moth, no moth – 


	V

It slips away on silent wings
A wing-tip farther than our reach
toward the East, toward the morn
this blackbird flies and flees and sings

Emerging from the dead of night
Impatient for the sun to rise.
It flies, we follow, called, drawn
unasked, to chase this phantom sight.

Up it soars – far and higher – 
We soar, too ... fly free, so free.
As helpless leaves before a wind
We chase this burning Shadow-Fire.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2015



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Date: 8/28/2015 5:56:00 PM
ABSOLUTLY WONDERFUL. Love the images and analogy! Puncuation works to give the poetry movement as well as assist the meter. Tweak: 1st Vrs. I just could not Grok "(so it seems to seem to be)"...I do see what the thought is but, it disturbed the flow for me. I can't suggest how to fix it. It may be your favorite line! MY FAVORITE:" It trembles like a fleck of ash" SUPER WORK!
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Edlynn Nau
Date: 8/28/2015 8:18:00 PM
My favorites among the other poets here?
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John Mudge
Date: 8/28/2015 7:31:00 PM
your comments warmed my heart. Tell me the names of three of your own favorites.
Date: 8/28/2015 5:44:00 PM
like a moth to a flame - what wonderful imagery - my aunt abhors moths cant stand the way they flutter:-( Hugs jan xx 7
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John Mudge
Date: 8/28/2015 7:33:00 PM
glad you liked it. Tell me the names of a couple of your own favorites so I can read them.
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