June is a Shadow
this June
is unlike
any
June known before
it is a forgotten collection of snapshots
buried deep underground
in cold damp soil
dig carefully,
you could fall in yourself
and become the shadow of (this) June
lost
to all time
recorded history
and beloved memory
don’t strike a match
or
light a candle
everything we know
is sure to burn if you do
keep quiet & sit tight
become the silhouette we know:
soft
starry
night
this June is a shadow
gripping the edge of May
growing
l
o
o
o
o
n
g
and
l
o
o
o
o
o
n
g
e
r
before
July
and likely
eclipsing
August, too.
this June is a shadow
the cover of night
where assassins make haste
resistance takes root
and the darkness ignites
becoming the torch
connecting shadows in
blinding
burning
light.
32 thoughts on "June is a Shadow"
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Love the formatting HA — it stretches out like June. Particularly fond of “this June is a shadow/the cover of night/where assassins make haste/resistance takes root/and the darkness ignites” — beautiful.
Thanks, Bill! I always appreciate your responses and that you take the time to read these. Awesome!
Bill said it. And another in this series. Something happens with the air in it that is peaceful. I feel at rest in this poem.
Thank you, Coleman! I’m so glad you felt the rest. I wasn’t sure if that came through. I really appreciate your kind words and that you read these poems.
June is the month isn’t it? The wise month but still naive as a graduate at the same time. How it can be both I am uncertain but there it is.
It is. This one feels extra strange given our global and national political unrest. I agree when you say the month is definitely both.
You’ve captured the feeling of this month in this year. Compliments on the form, and the work it took to get into the “write poem” box!!
Thanks,Greg! I appreciate your kind words. I never know how my poems will land.
I write with all the spacing as a draft email in Google. Then I copy and paste it into the box. I found that formatting tends to stick when I do that. I hope that helps!
I too really like the formatting, and the way you manage May and July is delightful.
One question: Who is the “you” in the poem? It wasn’t clear. Just a thought.
Thanks, E.E.! I am so glad you like this one. The “you” is purposely left ambiguous; I wanted readers to insert whomever came to their minds in it. I do see what you mean, and I appreciate the suggestion for sure. 💜
Bravo! Once again you’re compacting an entire thought into every line. The use of space is fantastic, particularly when giving us the words long and longer; you take us along for the roller coaster ride. Love this poem.
Thank you so much, Lee! I appreciate that you read and comment with such support and care.
The shape of this poem breathes and encourages me to do the same.
adore “become the silhouette we know” and all the lines before it and after it!
Love the bolded words. Read them together as the bone of this poem: deep/burn/eclipsing
Thank you so much, Pam! I am thrilled to see that you found the connection among the bold words, too. Yes, breathing is definitely good. I need to take a few breaths, too. 💜
I really like the line:
“this June is a shadow
gripping the edge of May”
Thank you, Bud!
H.A. I read everything in Dark Mode. It was pleasing to see your poem as light against shadow. It occurred to me you may have meant to do that?
Manny, you are too kind. You give me far too much credit. Dark mode or no, I am happy to see that you found its light. I appreciate that you read with such care.
This poem has changed my perspective about shadows. I have always viewed them as something that is cast by something else instead of something that can also obscure or follow. AMAZING WRITE!
This is so cool! Thank you, jstpoetry. I’m glad the poem inspired a new perspective for you.
you took me along on this June journey with the exquisite form and words.
Thank you, Linda! Always happy to have such great company. 💜
So much to enjoy about this poem. Its tone and form, but the lines too. Love “this June is a shadow/the cover of night…”
Many thanks, Shaun! I am.flad you enjoyed this one.
I don’t always like these spaced-out forms, H.A., but in this case I think it works well, reinforcing the poem’s darkly shimmering effect. Well done!
Thank you, Kevin! I appreciate your kind words and that you enjoyed this one.
I swayed with each creative line.
Your creativity is quite the gift! Thank you for sharing your gift with us 🙂
These lines stuck out to me:
the cover of night
where assassins make haste
resistance takes root
and the darkness ignites
I apologize for missing your comment. Thank you so much for reading and for leaving such kind feedback.
Powerful! (the last word I meant to include but clicked too quickly)
Thank you, Mary! 💜
Love the many ways you use the “shadow” imagery.
Thanks, Karen! Those shadows tend to follow us everywhere, and in many forms, too.