There was no ABC,
nothing in between
those hopeful letters
and the finality of XYZ.
Just shadows of words
that could have been.
Kim M. Russell, 2018
Fair Use
My response to Imaginary Garden with Real Toads Camera FLASH! ~ The April Edition
Kerry says it’s time to strike a pose again with a photographic challenge for the April 30 Poems in 30 Days Challenge. In honour of this occasion, she’s featuring two portrait shots. She tells us to feel free to use one now and one later in the month, when the muse has been exhausted.
Mine is short and not so sweet.
writing in north norfolk 
Ooh! This one makes me want to clap my hands.. Great insight into the image. I love it.
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Thank you, Kerry!
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I read this as Writer’s block — the sign which says “Not Here.” (Amen.)
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Oh my goodness, this makes me think of losing a child before he/she learned to talk, or of having a nonverbal autistic child. Without using the picture as a guide, of course …
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I’m pleased that you’ve inferred that meaning, Shawna.
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Fabulous insight here, Kim! I love it! Sharp and succinct 😍 *stands up and applauds* 💜
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Thank you, Sanaa! What has pleased me is that everyone sees different meanings in it.
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Oh yes 🙂
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I see it differently again – as an enigmatic poem about a mysterious portrait.
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😊
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I really like this…very evocative. (K)
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Thank you!
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Short and sweet indeed, Luv it
much love…
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Thank you, Gillena. 😊
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A mysterious photo, and you poem is a little bit mysterious, too. Or many layered it may be.
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😊
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A mysterious poem to me as well, I especially like the last lines “Just shadows of words
that could have been.” They make me think of a relationship gone wrong, a failure to communicate except when leaving one behind.
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An interesting interpretation, Ellecee.
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Having read of Lissitzky’s life, I find your poem on point in more than one way. He was a driven man and an innovator. This poem is sharp and to the point.
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Thank you, Toni. I’ve only just looked him up and apparently letters and typography were important to him and his artwork.
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Tight, smart and thoughtful write.
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Thank you.
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“…just shadows of words that could have been.” This is powerful. Very cool.
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Thank you, Sherry.
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Magnificent. 😎🥀😎🥀😎🥀😎🥀😎🥀
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So very clever, every word!
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kaykuala
the finality of XYZ.
Just shadows of words
that could have been
It invokes some mysterious questions obviously
Hank
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An errily elegant poem, with a poignancy hard to describe, like grapsing for that phrase that just won’t come.
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Thank you, Frank – I like eerily elegant!
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‘Just shadows of words that could have been’ – this is haunting, sad, mysterious. I think of a disabled child, or a relationship that never got off the ground.
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Thank you, Sara.
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