Notes About The Poem
Previously in Mark Toney's 2022 Poetry Marathon, Mile 23/ Used for Seth Pina's Obsession Contest May 2026

Shadow Poet - a Place Exists

Shadow poet -
sleep does not come easy.
Out of bed- creep across the floor,
silently so not to wake those dreaming
whose buried dreams from them shall never flow.

To the door down the hall,
find a light that's low.
Hurry - for you know that thoughts are fleeting
like this night you wish would never go.

Night is all one shadow for the poet.
No one knows the places that you travel -
only those like you who unravel images
while sitting in that special place alone.

Pouring out with every hour fleeing.
That's enough for now. You must get rest.
This thing you do - creating -
it's your power, the talent God gave you
as your best.

Hide your talent not beneath the earth.
A place exists where other Shadow poets
in light of day do come to shine - to share
and likewise there - 
can also see YOUR worth.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

Poem

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12
Kauffman Avatar
January 13, 2023 at 11:07 AM
No shadow poet here Andrea! Your poetic talent shines bright as sunlight. Congratulations on your win! Blessings of sunlight for your muse my friend!
Watt Avatar
January 6, 2023 at 4:22 PM
Love how you start this out in the poet's mind in the dead of night... a very solitary time and place (as most of us know so well), then evolve it to where the words and thoughts see the light of day, reaching the eventual reader. I also like the comment about not hiding your talent. Great writing, my friend, congrats on your podium win in Mile 23 ~ John
George Avatar
January 5, 2023 at 5:20 AM
I can so much relate. A lot of ideas come to us during night when we lie counting sheep. But if we wait for the dawn to come, all those ideas disappear. Beautiful poem Andrea. Congratulations on your prestigious win in the Marathon.
Toney Avatar
January 4, 2023 at 7:39 PM
Andrea, I love "Hurry - for you know that thoughts are fleeting ~ like this night you wish would never go." An experience we all have from time to time. The last stanza is brilliant. "A place exists where other Shadow poets ~ in the light of day do come to shine" leading to a mutual exchange of encouragement. Congratulations on your second-place podium finish on Mile 23 of my 2022 Poetry Marathon Contest. Keep your running shoes on because Mile 24 has already started.
Ashley Avatar
January 4, 2023 at 4:38 PM
Dear Andrea, your poetic gem is something we can all relate to here. Indeed, the creative stirrings of the muse cares not what time it is, only that it is time to “unravel images”. Such an exceptional piece. Congratulations for your excellent win in Mark’s contest. Warmest wishes, my friend.. ~Susan
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 21, 2017 at 7:50 PM
I am so glad to see it did do well in the contest Andrea. Congratulations! :)
Rodrigues Avatar
August 20, 2017 at 7:17 PM
Love this, Andrea! Congrats!
Wood Avatar
August 20, 2017 at 6:56 PM
Back to congratulate you on this win. I knew it would do well. Dean
May Avatar
August 20, 2017 at 4:35 PM
Congrats on your win Andrea
White Avatar
August 20, 2017 at 12:04 AM
Ow, Andrea, such beautiful poem, and I can feel every line in it. Congratulations!
U.D Palawon  Avatar
August 19, 2017 at 10:51 PM
Such a good description of shadow poet and your creativity is just wonderful!Congrats on the win. :) Sunita
Barden Avatar
August 19, 2017 at 9:13 PM
Andrea - I can't say anything to you that hasn't been said a hundred times already - you are such a talented writer, and I adore your pen. This could have been about me, and not only did I relate closely, but the flow and emotion is exquisitely resplendent, the phrasing and storytelling nothing short of divine. Congrats on THIRD PLACE, in a contest jam-packed with winners!
Kannan Avatar
August 15, 2017 at 8:05 AM
Wow...This is so beautifully penned, Andrea... Definitely a winner... I loved it completely... Thanks for sharing this lovely work.
Stars Avatar
August 15, 2017 at 6:09 AM
wow ...
May Avatar
August 15, 2017 at 4:01 AM
'Unraveling images while others are dreaming'... Well penned Andrea...
Johnson Avatar
August 14, 2017 at 10:33 PM
Great concept for a contest. I relate to this in so much as that I lay in bed half conscious in early dawn hours and the ghostly phrases just start rolling. Some of my best thoughts, but never recorded. :(
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 14, 2017 at 7:14 PM
This is great Andrea! Have not seen this contest because I have been busy cleaning out closets etc. This should so well! : )
Parker Avatar
August 14, 2017 at 3:32 PM
Ok, my friend I now know I have lost again in another contest...well done, nicely expressed, as we all have lived your poem...
Wood Avatar
August 14, 2017 at 12:00 PM
A poet's poet Andrea. Many of us will relate to this beauty. Beautiful job! -- Dean
Battaglino Avatar
August 14, 2017 at 10:21 AM
Your poem really hits home. I've come up with so many ideas in the middle of the night. I thought this poem was beautiful also.
Daniel Avatar
August 14, 2017 at 8:59 AM
I remember you have written another beautiful poem about shadow poets, lovely as always, Andrea:)
Muideen Avatar
August 14, 2017 at 7:00 AM
What an excellent poem. My inspiration for writing came in the midnight, at first, when i started writing. It was something around Three Thirty - Four o'clock. Up till now i do write at midnight. Thanks for sharing this poem. Good luck in the contest.
Sivey Avatar
August 14, 2017 at 4:53 AM
Yes, I too wake in the middle of the night just to write something down that seems so poetic...I must do it! But when I wake, it sometimes doesn't seem to be that great of a piece of a poem, just a bunch of words that don't make much sense...but sometimes they are quite amazing! What an awesome poem here to bring this Shadow into the limelight my friend! Such a grand piece Andrea, an exquisite poem, Great Work!!
Andresen Avatar
August 14, 2017 at 3:12 AM
- "Shadow poets" ... minds can flow freely in the quiet hours - A great poem, Andrea - Good luck in the contest :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Smith Avatar
August 13, 2017 at 11:04 PM
The old adage "it's always darkest before the dawn" . My muse is waking right about dawn more often than not... Excellent poem Andrea
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