Home » Poems » Brian Sambourne » Shadowland

Shadowland

the sun 
low in the sky
yearns for a leap into night
as shadows squeeze their way into bedrooms
like shapeless dragons
for children
cocooned to an early bed
staging thoughts like puppet plays
on a wall terrain
of mossy caverns or whispering vines
that never merge dreams smoothly
when children imagine the huff and puff of shadows
like creatures swimming in circles
overlapping at a patchwork distance
before the painted black of night
quiets the pull of imagination 
in the candy cane bend of sleep

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Gary Radice

Date: 1/5/2024 6:20:00 AM

I'm so glad I came across this today Brian. It's up there with your very best. I love it. All the best for '24. Cheers - Gary

Brian Sambourne
Date: 1/5/2024 3:15:00 PM

Hi Gary. Very thoughtful of you to drop me a line. No new posting from me in weeks due to caregiver role with my mum in a nursing home. I hope to regain momentum soon. All the best in 2024, Brian

Paul Callus

Date: 11/12/2023 12:30:00 PM

Metaphors and personification give life to this excellent poem, Brian. It merits a place in my list of favs! ~ Regards // paul

Brian Sambourne
Date: 11/12/2023 7:09:00 PM

Greetings Pul, Thanks very much for your thumbs up regarding my poem on shadows + childhood. I appreciate the supportive acknowledgement. Be well. Brian

Thomas Wells

Date: 10/14/2023 10:16:00 PM

For me, this poem beautifully captures the dreamy imaginings of children by masterfully carrying the reader through a surreal stream of images beginning with shadows and ending with sleep. You have a gift for writing this way. Very well penned, Brian!

Brian Sambourne
Date: 10/15/2023 7:14:00 AM

Hello Thomas, My appreciation for your thoughtful remarks on my poem. As poets we do draw from memory + then take imaginative license to sketch out a scene, an image. Thank you for your insightful words. Be well. Brian

Charles Messina

Date: 10/14/2023 2:28:00 AM

Another terrific write, Brian. This brought me way back to the days when I slept next to my siblings in our bunk beds and played a shadow game we created, in which we had to imagine what they resembled. I still secretly play it by myself (lol). Keep up the awesome writes. Stay well.. Charlie

Brian Sambourne
Date: 10/15/2023 7:19:00 AM

Thank you, Charles for your affirmative take on my posting. The response to it has been most reassuring considering my 2 NA's. As a child, I, too, played shadow games with tree shapes on my bedroom walls, imagining all sorts of other worlds. With appreciation. Be well. Brian

Bill Baker

Date: 10/6/2023 8:39:00 PM

You brought the thoughts of children into reality with this descriptive poetry, Brian. Thanks for sharing, my friend. Bill

Brian Sambourne
Date: 10/7/2023 5:23:00 AM

Greetings Bill, I hope all is well with you. Thank you for the thoughtful comment. I appreciate your input. Take care. Brian

Diane Leggett

Date: 10/2/2023 1:16:00 AM

A really lovely portrayal of childhood imagination - thanks Brian

Brian Sambourne
Date: 10/2/2023 6:26:00 AM

I appreciate your stop by + comment Diane. Thank you for adding an affirmative note. Best wishes, Brian

Sam Kauffman

Date: 9/29/2023 9:55:00 AM

Brian, the seamless flow of carefully placed bedtime childhood images - "candy cane," "puppet plays," "patchwork," and, my favorite "shadows squeeze their way into bedrooms," carries and enhances this vignette of putting a child to bed and watching them drift into slumber. Wonderfully crafted! Cheers and blessings of sweet slumber to you!

Brian Sambourne
Date: 9/29/2023 1:31:00 PM

Hello Sam, I much value your opinion on my poem of shadows. Such supportive words on the posting so I haven't deleted it after all despite the contest bypass. Thanks again. Good night's of slumber to you as well. Cheers, Brian

Charles Messina

Date: 9/29/2023 2:39:00 AM

Shadows on the bedroom walls always scared the hell out of me as a child (lol) Excellent write, Brian. Have a great weekend, my friend.

Brian Sambourne
Date: 9/29/2023 6:03:00 AM

Thanks very much for your vote of confidence in my poem. I appreciate the feed back. I hope that you are well. Cheers, Brian

Sotto Poet

Date: 9/28/2023 7:03:00 AM

Dear friend Brian, your poetic lines are filled with magnificent imagery, transporting the reader to a world where shadows gracefully infiltrate bedrooms and intertwine at varying distances, resembling a beautifully crafted patchwork. I am truly grateful for your uplifting comment on my page.

Brian Sambourne
Date: 9/28/2023 7:53:00 AM

Hello Lasaad, Thank you for your thoughtful, affirmative message about my poem. Shadows in bedrooms + children's imaginations seemed like a good fit. With appreciation, Brian

Christina Bowring

Date: 9/27/2023 8:08:00 AM

What a delightful poem to read Brian. So many wonderful lines,’ as shadows squeeze their way into bedrooms’,’ overlapping at a patchwork distance’ and the beautiful last line. Such wonderful, vivid imagery and creation within great poetic lines. Really enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing.

Brian Sambourne
Date: 9/27/2023 12:33:00 PM

Wow, thank you Christina. I didn't put much stock in the poem after it received a couple of NA's. I am reassured + very pleased that the poem resonated with you. Best wishes, Brian

Sara Kendrick

Date: 9/26/2023 5:03:00 AM

Ahhh!!! How descriptive using some wonderful metaphors. I enjoyed reading this expressive and creative one. Bedtime is a wonderful time for some children but for others a time of scary dreams. Sara

Brian Sambourne
Date: 9/26/2023 6:23:00 AM

Thanks very much for your vote of confidence in my posting Sara, as the magically scary shapes of shadows was not popular with contest sponsors. With appreciation, Brian