Draw the curtains
on your shadow
full and dense
give me.
black out.
blinds
and velvet shades –
your greyest greys
turn off the lights
in the middle of the day
give me.
darkness.
that I can see
and touch
with charcoal gloves
I draw my name
But I see
the outlines of your soul
– or love
when I look again
…
inspired by ‘Between the Shadow and the Soul’ by Pablo Neruda
“I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul.”
…
Artwork from Galerie Italienne
Perhaps, in the penumbra, that instance and fine line of a shadow, between darkness and light, this soul can be seen.
This beautiful mystery of a poem is magical. It shows us the promise of seeing something special where nothing can be seen.
Needing darkness to get a flash of this silhouette. You made me see a flicker of light, a slight ray of sunshine peeking around an eclipse.
Beautiful Rachel. I love this in the darkness and in the light. ❤️
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Drew, thank you, always. I’m so fascinated with the line between dark and light, the shadow, the contrast, and all that it symbolizes. It’s there that so much can be seen. Darkness can be illuminating too. I am so entranced by that Neruda poem.
I hope you’ve had a wonderful weekend AT HOME. You’re like Dorothy, ‘there’s no place like home’.
❤️
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Yes, I am feeling very much like Dorothy.
Just so you know, I read and commented on this post straight from my blog on my computer. When I clicked on the title to go to your page, it said the blog was private.
Don’t know if WordPress is having issues again. I posted an updated version of my The Man Behind The Blog and I am getting a feeling wordpress is having issues.
I am good. Busy with so many errands and preparation for the two or three week rest period that is coming. I need to have everything ready.
Hope you are well my friend. xo
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Oh… I didn’t see that post in my notifications? So maybe WP is having issues. I’ll have to go and hunt it down.
A million things to do for you I’m sure. I’ll refrain from the million questions… for now. Take care, enjoy everything you have missed. Xo
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Smiling. You have been missed, too. More than you will ever know. xo
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Beautiful imagery here. It is true too; only in the darkness can we truly see.
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Thank you for saying that – it is exactly what I wanted to try and convey. And only in darkness sometimes do we not need to hide. Darkness is so often associated with evil or something ‘bad’, but it can symbolise so many other things. Nothing is black and white.
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I love this! A very musical creativity to it, its haunting, and a phantom that flees moments to hide behind the eyes, occurs in our imagination, in the dark, and sparkles darkly, in secret.
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Funny because your comment resembles some lines that were initially in this poem. But “Sparkles darkly…” that is pure Watt genius. Would be a good title.
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Hahaha. Thanks!
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A mysterious dark piece, but with white glow….. And have to send you this classic song for your wondrous poem…. and just like your poem, the lyrics are stunning
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Ivor, thank you, my wonderful friend. What a great song to go with the poem. Hope you are well xo
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Amazing…simply amazing ☺
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Thank you so much John. I really liked your latest post too…. so open and honest. I found it incredibly inspiring.
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Beautiful. We can dream and imagine what we have lost in the dark, see what we want to see, there can be comfort in the dark. Very nice. Have a great week. Love 💕 Joni
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I agree with every word of what you say here lovely Joni. I’m so glad that you enjoyed this. Love to you too ♥️
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On the cusp between light and darkness, this mysterious dark verse glows brightly. The richness of darkness so beautifully wrought bathing it in the light of your imagery.
Pure gorgeousness, Rachel. ❤️❤️
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A little bit of light in the dark can be a beautiful thing right? Reading the comments (including yours), makes me want to rewrite the poem to include these gorgeous images. Thank you, my darling friend ❤️❤️
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Absolutely, it is!
You can write a new poem including all the suggested images because I think this is perfect as it is.
Always such a pleasure, Rachel dearest. ❤️❤️
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Oh that was stunning, I love how it made me feel. Smooth, darkly intoxicating…reading this gave me a high.
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I love that it made you feel that way too Larisa. That’s a huge compliment!! Thank you so much, gorgeous friend 💕
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Such a beautiful piece dearest Rachel❤❤ Darkness has a unique shine in it, I feel. You have to search for it, and it comes to you. And sometimes maybe, you have to be surrounded by dark, to feel the scenery.
Loved the poem! It had dark light of it’s own.🌹
xoxoxo
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Thank you so much Ishita, you truly read to the very core of a poem. I think there is dark within light and light within dark. I’m going to quote you “sometimes maybe, you have to be surrounded by dark, to feel the scenery.” That is beautiful, so poetic, you should use that! Thank you, lovely friend ❤️❤️
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My pleasure Rachel❤😘
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From the image accompanying the poem, to the mood of the poem – sensual, romantic, almost sinfully pleasing… I loved everything about it. Strangely, it seems one of the most relatable poems I’ve ever read. The poem feels like smoke and binds the reader like a spell… ❤️
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I am inwardly jumping for joy that you find this relatable, it felt like a slightly obscure poem and I worried it needed more in order to make it relatable. I was thinking a little of a lot of things, the Jungian shadow, the unconscious, the parts of ourselves we often try to hide, the process of allowing others to see us… Sinfully pleasing and smokily bonding…. thank you so much ❤️
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So many depths of this poem to swim in
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Thank you Jay, I’m glad you see it that way 😊
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You’re welcome 😁
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Wow! Wow wow wow. Love!
It’s this “give me. / blackout.” which is just so perfect.
And then the ending…
“But I see
the outlines of your soul
– or love
when I look again”
These are lines to hope by.
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I knew you, of all people would spot this. The hope and the love, the realness of another within/despite the darkness.
You make my heart so happy ❤️❤️
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You have gone past dark as lonely hopeless dismal and more by making it desirable.
FYI … Dark would be a good beach walk topic.
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Thank you Frank, and yes it would be a good beach walk topic. Yes PLEASE! Good to hear from you, hope you’re well.
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Shhhhhhh …. Don’t tell anyone …. It’s already written.
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Don’t worry Frank, your secret is safe with me. When might I expect to see this top secret occurrence?
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I have me mind on a October launch
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Well; I’ll look forward to that!
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Your ability to write the way you do is such a high for the reader. Wow! Thank you for painting with words in this exceptional poem. SO enjoyed!! xo
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I would say the same thing about your photographs Amy, they always give my spirit a soar. Thank you, so much ❤️
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Move over Neruda! I loved every bit of this beautiful work, Rachel! The ending was perfection.
My other favorites:
“give me. black out. blinds…”
“that I can see and touch with charcoal gloves”
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Katy, you are truly too kind. I appreciate your kind words. I absolutely love Neruda’s poetry. Thank you!
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Oh, I love this Rachel. It’s intense and speaks to the dark shadows and yearnings of my soul. Illuminating in all of its darkness and mystery. Beautiful. 💙
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Miriam, I think sometimes the dark places within hold so much. They can illuminate so much, they can hold our secrets and our shame, our yearnings… I really am a believer in shades of grey – lol and not the books/movie – I think that so little in life is either black or white, light or dark. I’m so happy you liked it, means so much, thank you.
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Your poem illustrates perfectly. The things we cannot see are beautiful but looking further there’s a mystery of such that is magic or a depth of us in finding our soul and turning on the light that is within us. Beautifully poetic work, Rachel. 🙂
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Charlie, I absolutely love how you have described this – I agree, the things we cannot see can be beautiful and the “magic or a depth of us in finding our soul and turning on the light that is within us”. Could not have said it better. Thank you for your kind words and for being such a good friend on here 💜
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You are welcome, Rachel.
I observed well within your words. Your emotion carries that which we all find within.
You help us doing so and for that…big virtual hugs from me to you. 🙂
🙂
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Ooh this is so soothing—the thought of dark velvet shades in the middle of the day—curling up together. Beautiful, Rachel. 💓😊
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Thank you, lovely Nina – soothing, yes, total blackness and stillness. Even better, curling up with another there. ❤️💜
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Absolutely surreal! A dream sequence…I don’t know the Pablo Neruda poem…which you have so artistically created, psychologically crafted and rendered so precise…loved it Rachel, beautiful thoughts with the perfect words. Hoping you’ve a lovely Tuesday and all the best,
Francisco
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Thank you so much Francisco. Neruda’s poem is a masterpiece, so many layers and depths and such beauty. Wednesday for me now, all the best to you too!
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And a lovely Wednesday morning it is here in Mediterranean Spain! I will certainly look for that poem of Neruda’s, I have always admired him. Take good care and enjoy the day! All the best Rachel.
Francisco
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Mediterranean Spain – a beautiful morning – sounds magical. Add in a coffee…. Sigh. Thank you Fransisco, you have a great day too.
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Yes, coffee was great and so was my walk around the city, which resulted in a beautiful picture…Enjoy the morning Rachel! 🙂
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This is so beautiful and I love the depth
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Thank you so much, I appreciate that you saw depth in this.
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Hope lives in the dawn
Magic in the twilight.
This poem shows us why.
Thank you for this. Dr. Bob
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Thank you for such beautiful words, they bring a sparkle to the poem. Rachel
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Dear Rachel, wow you are just so incredibly talented!!
Your poems read like waves, sometimes gentle caressing the soul,
at times creating a just very powerful ocean-imagery, emotional imagery…
Beautiful!! Thank you for sharing your talent. Big hugs! xoxo
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Darling friend. Every time I read a single word you write, I feel like I am immediately lighter and happier – I know it’s the internet but you have some kind of aura about you. Thank you for your kind words, and big hugs back to you. I hope you are well xoxo
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Dear Rachel, aww that is such an incredibly sweet thing to say! Thank you so much, you brought a big big smile to my face 🙂 I am ok, lots going on the last months…appreciate your kindness!! Hope you are well or ok, too. Big hugs lovely friend!! xoxo
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Big hugs back xoxo
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Thank you Chuck xoxo
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Always happy to share your words with followers, Rachel!! Hope you are staying safe, healthy and happy!!
xoxo 😘🌹
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You too Chuck! Xoxo 😘
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“turn off the lights
in the middle of the day
give me.
darkness.”
Rachel I can’t even read further. I… WOW. This is the work of a genius. I am not kidding. Forget for a moment about Pablo Neruda. Your poem grabs one’s soul; invades it; speaks to it; occupies it forever. Watt is right. The beauty of this piece is haunting. Haunting! You are unbelievable. You almost made my heart stop.
My fabulous Rachel, I could ask a thousand things: How are you? How do you feel? How is the weather? How is your car? I can send you boats of flowers and love. In fact I do. I am loading them now. Yet everything I’ll do or I’ll ask will forever stay in the shadows of your magnificent words.
“that I can see
and touch
with charcoal gloves
I draw my name
But I see
the outlines of your soul
– or love
when I look again”
WOW. Don’t wake me up. Let me live inside the world of your words.
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Gabriela, I really do not feel I deserve this reaction from you, you are the sweetest and kindest and most generous soul. Thank you, my fabulous friend, it’s me that would like to live in the world of your words, that beautiful, immersive place, full of colour and passion and beauty and music and the breeze of a Mediterranean Sea.
Thank you for what you say, I’m so grateful.
I got the boats. I DROVE to greet them (my car is fixed). Did yours? And how are you? I’m sorry I’ve been a little absent. I’ve missed you. I’m sending you lots of love in time for the weekend.
❤️💕🧡💛💕💜 xoxox
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My dearest Rachel, you deserve every word and more. The poem is a masterpiece. It’s epic. It will live in my soul forever.
“it’s me that would like to live in the world of your words,” Oh, you are so kind Rachel. Thank you so much.
I am glad you got the boats and that your car is fixed. Mine is fixed too. It was an entire production when I picked it up – gloves, masks, disinfectant spray and wipes- anyway it’s home.
“And how are you? ” I am sad. I don’t know why I can’t get rid of this sadness. Anyway, I’ll be ok. I’ve missed you too. How are you sweetheart?
I got the love for the weekend. Sending you more love for the rest of the weekend.
xoxoxo
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Sweetheart, I am sorry you’re sad…. sometimes i feels like sadness wraps us in its melancholy arms and there‘a a familiarity and bittersweet quality to being there that makes it so hard to break free. Maybe sadness personified would dress us in a mask and gloves, and keep us away from others… maybe that’s partly why it’s so hard to shake when that is our literal situation. It must be very difficult having missed out on your student’s graduation.
I’m sending you some macaroons… lime, scented with a summer breeze, and flowers on the table.
Lots of love across the ocean …. xoxox
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Really loved this
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Thank you so much my friend. How are you these days?
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I am good. Alhamdulillah. How are you?
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I’m ok, thank you. Here life is starting to return to normal and less people are getting sick so I’m very grateful for that.
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Absolutely, crazy gorgeous. Once again You stepped inside me. Thank You. ❤️
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Ahhh, I’m so glad you can relate. Thank you, my friend ❤❤
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My pleasure, Rachel. 🤗❤️😊
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This has got a very beautiful dark shimmer
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Sometimes things are more illuminated in the dark. Sometimes the dark is strangely comforting. Thank you!
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I couldn’t agree more, the dark can be such a mystery of beauty and very inviting.
( Just not the dark hallways or alleys 😉)
It’s my pleasure you’re welcome ❤️
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Agreed, let’s stay away from dark alleys and hallways. Thanks again ❤️
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Loved this Rachel! I’m thinking you out did the Master here!! Bellissimo, My Dear, Bellissimo!
Really loved these lines:
I draw my name
But I see
the outlines of your soul
– or love
when I look again
I’m with you on liking the darkness and shadows! Sometimes it’s easier to see clearly with the mind’s eye in the darkness than we can in the light! I find I really love writing in the dark, just writing a line in my head and then adding to it until I get about eight and then writing them down and then going back to darkness and writing the rest. I also love the way a true friend will sit with you in the darkness in life and wait with you until the light comes!! Also love the space between the lines in poetry where the shadows hide so much that is felt and yet unspoken!! Mmmm! Thanks so much for sharing this great post!!
Chuck
xoxo
😘💕🌹🌹
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