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Shadow Soliloquy

The pretty lady in white throws the bouquet, like a game show host giving out consolation prizes; like the bottle cap liner on your tropical fruit juice - "thanks for playing - try again" So her flowers were caught by a 12-year-old fullback with braces and a Hello Kitty wristwatch; she must be next to get married (if tradition holds true) - that's at least another 8 years for me to be #2 Kiss the bride but miss the bridesmaid. Everybody missed the speech by the best man, they were all watching the couple kissing and being cute - while the maid of honor slipped down the hall to "get some fresh air" Silver medal in the attic collecting dust; "You were 2nd best" - like that is some honor. The way I see it in big, bold font: "You lost when it counted" I am the penultimate: the bridesmaid the pinch hitter the salutatorian the understudy the vice president the substitute teacher the back-up quarterback the untalented kid brother the bake-off red ribbon winner the beauty pageant runner-up the spare key under the welcome mat the best man (2nd best, if you think about it) languishing in the shadows of #1

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Aditi Mishra

Date: 7/7/2020 1:42:00 PM

Oh I am so glad to visit this brilliant muse of yours again and this time to congratulate you on a win my friend :)

John Watt
Date: 7/7/2020 2:26:00 PM

I'm so happy this registered with you and brought a smile. Thank you for your return visit, Aditi. Many blessings ~ John

L. J. Carber

Date: 7/7/2020 12:45:00 PM

I love the cleverness! Esp. that string of metaphors at the end-- and it's funny! Which is hard for us poets--at least yours truly--to achieve. I would have surely placed it much higher...

John Watt
Date: 7/7/2020 12:57:00 PM

Thank you, LJ, for the kind words. I'm glad you could see the humor, most of my life that's how I've dealt with disappointment. Cheers ~ John

John Hamilton

Date: 7/6/2020 1:46:00 PM

Nice write John this one deserves a placement not an N/A, justice done this time 'round!

John Watt
Date: 7/6/2020 5:05:00 PM

Thanks for the boost in confidence, John. I call you the equalizer. Many blessings, my friend ~ John

Aditi Mishra

Date: 5/12/2020 2:14:00 PM

You possess the sorcery of transforming the mundane into magic by using your words! I could have never looked at it this way before. :) I actually feel delighted to read your words. Please keep writing and inspiring dear friend.

John Watt
Date: 5/27/2020 5:05:00 PM

Thank you for these inspiring words, my dear friend. You have the gift of uplifting your fellow poets and bringing a smile.

Silent One

Date: 5/2/2020 3:57:00 PM

I like how you structured this poem, a very clever poem..

John Watt
Date: 5/2/2020 4:45:00 PM

Thank you, SO. I'm proud of you for your POTD today. A poem about silence from Silent One seems especially thought-provoking.

Evelyn Judy Buehler

Date: 5/1/2020 10:48:00 PM

I enjoyed this immensely, John. This saga of living in another's shadow, was masterfully written, with wit and humor.

John Watt
Date: 5/2/2020 12:17:00 AM

Thank you Evelyn for dropping by and leaving behind such a nice comment!

Joyce Johnson

Date: 5/1/2020 9:59:00 PM

Thank you John for your kind commso no. 2 is fine for the other things.ents on my Sarah poem. Well you can be a no.1 poet

John Watt
Date: 5/2/2020 12:18:00 AM

Dear Joyce, you're welcome and thank you, in that order! I'm blessed that you would stop by and pay me a visit. Be safe and well ~ John

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 5/1/2020 2:54:00 PM

sorry this missed the contest deadline. I feel it would have been very deserving of a win.

John Watt
Date: 5/1/2020 6:05:00 PM

Thanks for the thoughtfulness. With only 10 winners it would have gone up against many really good poems. But I'm thankful the contest nudged me to finish a poem I started 15 years ago and got around to finalizing. Congrats on your win!

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 5/1/2020 10:25:00 AM

How utterly unique this is, and I love how you took shadow theme and played with it in a very different way than the norm. Loved the last line. Loved the patterning of this. your creativity shines here.

John Watt
Date: 5/1/2020 1:20:00 PM

Thank you, my dear friend, for seeing some uniqueness in this. Always a pleasure to read your encouraging words. Hugs ~ John

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 5/1/2020 1:09:00 AM

Very unique perspective on shadows, so eloquently sad and yearning, but I am sure you are standing squarely in sunlight now! Wishing you all the best for the contest-

John Watt
Date: 5/1/2020 1:18:00 PM

Thank you, dear friend, for seeing this and commenting. You are correct, I am now basking in sunlight (this was originally conceived in 2004, modified and posted last night, just minutes after the contest closed!) I always appreciate your uplifting insights, Michelle. Blessings ~ John

Timothy Hicks

Date: 5/1/2020 12:30:00 AM

I like when poetry is very personable and the reader feels like he is apart of the scene - which I think holds true for this work. An endearing tale about the good ole fashioned underdog (added bonus for the staircase pattern at the end). Penultimate (or ultimate in pen?).

John Watt
Date: 5/1/2020 1:15:00 PM

Timothy, I'm glad you felt this was one others could relate to. It was twist on the old cliché, "always the bridesmaid, never the bride". I think poetry is best when it touches the reader in some way, and most of us have felt that feeling of being under someone else's shadow. Like the song "Wind Beneath My Wings". Thanks for the comment!