POETRY

Another Perspective

Appreciating Shadow

Photo by Kyre Song on Unsplash

Shadow exists only

in the presence of light;

in total darkness

there is no variance of shade.

It is within the grayness,

the hide-and-seek,

the balance of light and dark,

that shadow resides.

Without shadow

there is no depth,

no tension,

no hidden struggle

within the paintings of life.

Art without shadow

leaves the painting flat,

two dimensional;

so I smudge dabs of navy blue

to highlight the focus,

and blotches of charcoal

to accent what would only fade

into background

if not for navy and black undertones

now lurking in the canvas.