Friday, January 28, 2011

singular thoughts

Photo Credit: Flickr
why did he not see my  shoe,
I had worn that for this photo shoot
he only took one,
I had taken hours to get ready
I borrowed your coat
shirt from my son,
sweater from a street dweller
what was he thinking
about my perfectly placed hat?
my gnarled hands show my character
that stick now my sustenance
in that war I fought for freedom
when landmine took away my limb

"I had wished for all to see my shoe, 
my only shoe, on that foot I still carry
in the evening of my life"

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

A poignant, insightful poem.

Jinksy said...

A picture tells a thousand words...

RJ Clarken said...

I'm trying to compose myself, and my thoughts - because what can one say that would add to the words you painted beside that stark photograph? Powerful, painful and touching - all at once, and rendered beautifully.

flaubert said...

Gautami, this is a beautifully rendered piece. I saw this photo on
flickr and almost used it. You did justice to the photo.
Pamela

Brenda Clews said...

Besides this photo, which has such depth, character, that you have focused on what we can't see, the shoe outside the picture frame to hold the memories of the sitter, the man, is beautiful.

Elizabeth said...

Profound and utterly sensitive. Such an amazing touch you have, Gautami. This so mates itself with the photo.

Elizabeth

Tumblewords: said...

Packed with power, both the image and the poem! Wonderful, oh, wonderful!!

mark said...

This one stands out, Gautami, from your work. This is you writing at the top of your game.

Anonymous said...

This is so touching. Most of my life I have worked with the elderly. They have such stories to tell and so much to teach us. You have written this with so much sensitivity. Gave me the chills.

christopher said...

Poignant and thought provoking. Well thought out, I think and a wonderful choice of character. Again, I have to say, we all accepted this assignment and we all did so well, by far the best Big Tent I have been in.

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed your focus on the part of the photo that we can't see! Just like some famous paintings, the most intriguing part is the part that was purposefully cropped off!

Laurie Kolp said...

Beautifully written with a unique twist. I really enjoyed this one!

~laurie

Mad Kane said...

Very powerful! Thanks.

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nan said...

fine work. well told.

nan said...

and one more thought . . . you have captured so well what DOESN'T make it into a photograph that is very important. Photographs can't always characterize wholeness, truth, identity.

Linda said...

There's that poignant reminder of what is lost and can't be replaced. A beautiful portrait .

Joyce Ellen Davis said...

Nice work, Tami! Well done.

deb said...

that coat, face.. insightful story!

Reflections said...

Wow, such a poignant piece, though the picture misses the point of the other shoe... your words show it well.

Ramesh Sood said...

Oh,how you could so truly portray the feelings.. goosepumps.. that's what I experienced after reading this piece...Gautami..Thanks..

Rinkly Rimes said...

The character comes through even without the shoe.

Gemma Wiseman said...

A painful plea that challenges our sense of rightness! Beautiful!

Nanka said...

Powerful and touching!!

Anonymous said...

Incredible.

This bleached my mind. Thank you. Please have a good new week.



daily athens

Erin Davis said...

The voice you have created is powerful and so real. Very touching.

Shail Raghuvanshi said...

Lovely. Just loved the image you have conjured in your lines...

Harshad Mehta said...

Now, this is brilliant!

SandyCarlson said...

Humbling and beautiful. Thank you.

Míriam Luiza said...

Achei muito bom o post!

shail said...

Very poignant!