Discerning Shadow
This fine line I walk,
contentment to one side,
to the other a darkness
that would deny any comfort,
is the path I have chosen.
This most delicate balance,
holds an edge of uncertainty,
for the darkness casts its shadow
across that line. Otherwise,
it is revealed as the shadow.
I shun that darkness, yet
one cannot be had without
the other. They are as one.
Had I known, would I
have chosen this path?
This poem is my response to dVerse – Poetics – Edges & Fringes, the prompt
from Lisa at dVerse ~ Poets Pub. I have chosen the first of the four options offered:
1. Write a poem using the word edge;
Image source: Shutterstock (edited here)
rivrvlogr 
Yes, darkness is the other side of light. Well written Ken.
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🙂 Thank you.
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You’re welcome 😉
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Ken, I like the visual you present here. Just to try to understand, why/how do you think you have chosen, per your last 2 lines? Is this personal or generally speaking? If you don’t want to answer, just tell me to buzz off 🙂
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Any moment can be like starting over. Do we know what lies ahead with each decision we make (starting over with each new decision)? I wasn’t thinking of the lesser of two evils when I wrote this, but what about the bad that comes with the good? Does it exist on its own or are there times when it’s an element we haven’t accounted for?
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Thanks for the explain, Ken. Not sure if those are rhetorical questions or not, but it seems that shadow always tags along with light. Even mountains aren’t exempt and they are some of the toughest things I know.
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Nice portrayal of a fairly universal perplexing puzzle: Had I known, would I have chosen this path?
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The only way to know is to move forward.
Thanks, Jazz.
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Deeply evocative, Ken.
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Thank you, Steve. I think many of us have those shadows. How did they come to be, and how do we resolve them?
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I wonder if choice is possible? How could you, or any of us, have chosen differently?
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Edgy work indeed, Ken I, too, see the demarcation, but always perceive it as precipice, a far more threatening line I’m always simultaneously fearful of and almost eager to leap from.
You write it well here.
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Thank you, sir.
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A very thoughtful poem, Ken. I imagine most of us look back and question decisions. It’s hard to know–if something bad happened because of a decision, but something good also happened?
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Thank you, Merril.
I’m sure we do. The key is to build on that good and keep moving forward.
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Hi Ken , arthritis flaring, typing excruciating, but great work!
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Thanks, Rob.
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I think we need that doakness to understand the light we live in.
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Balance.
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Do people really make such conscious plans? When I tried (long ago to be sure), nothing ever turned out as expected or anticipated. I wonder if we aren’t just always choosing blind. We do our best, and get both positive and negative results from each choice. At least I’ve never found it to be otherwise. Even obvious mistakes can result in things we wouldn’t want to go back and change. (K)
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If even possible going back, changes would have repercussions, so I guess my question is rhetorical. I do know of things I would have done differently at the time, given more insight, but where would I be now? That damn butterfly effect.
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Yes, I think about it a lot myself. I’ve made some major mistakes in my life, but good came out of all of them.
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There are questions that have no answers, or all answers. This is wonderful, Ken!
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🙂 Thank you, Sara.
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Excellent Ken. We need the darkness so we can discern the direction of the light.
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Yes, that balance. Thank you, John.
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This is quite thought provoking … I am sitting here thinking about the many choices (excellent and horrific) I’ve made in my life. A woman approaching the age of 80. No time for do-overs.
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