shadow heart (de jackson)

 

Keep your face always in the sunshine,
and shadows will fall behind you.
– Walt Whitman

Helloooo, poetic peeps. De here (aka WhimsyGizmo). It’s time again for the Q44, our Quadrille – when we ponder one word, and poetically transform it into 44. Today, I want you to write a poem of exactly 44 words (not counting your title), including the word shadow.

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.
– Robert Louis Stevenson (Read the rest here.)

I thought the most beautiful thing in the world must be shadow.
― Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

And My soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted -Nevermore
– Edgar Allan Poe

Peter Pan chased his. Sometimes we box our own. It can be a noun (a darkness, silhouette, outline). It can be a verb (to follow, to shade or darken). It can be an adjective (shadow boxing, shadowless, shadowlike). Borrow one of the quotes (please give credit where due) and let that be your kickoff. Borrow the photo (again, give credit), and let it take you where it may. Or shadow your own poem path. Just be sure your 44-word poem contains some form of the word shadow.

 

Here’s how to Quadrille:

– Write a poem of exactly 44 words, including the word shadow.
– Put your poem on your blog and link back to this post.
– Link it up to our Mr. Linky.
– Visit other blogs. Enjoy some amazing poets. Comment. Come back later this week and write another one, and visit some more. Comment some more. Cast as many poem shadows as you please. I’ll be reading all week.