Green has turned to rust
as November winds
scour the island,
baring the trees.

Winter approaches
yet I linger,
hearing voices
call from caves
within the earth,
their invitation
to dream again
and share the dark.

With masks carved
from bone, fires lit
by ancient faith,
they dance
in slow circles,
holding the earth.

 


photograph by Jim Frid

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading of “Shadow Dance” with music by Ry Cooder

 

 

15 Responses

  1. I love this poem, simple and clean. The ancient Shadow Dancer’s etherial voice enfolding the Earth from within its depth sheds light upon our current charge.

  2. We are all dancing this in our own ways as the light of fire replaces the light of days.

  3. Whaddygot sum kinda contract with Hallmark cards Hynes? We needs sumpin we can hit!! Enuf softballs aready. Vinny D. Teamsters #719 Bayonne, NJ

  4. Don, “holding the earth in all its imperfections” is poetic in its own right but also expresses once again your mix of affection and sadness for a world with troubles as well as joys. Thank you.

  5. The words, your voice, the music, all in balance and complete. Loved this! Very healing to experience it this morning, thank you.

  6. Very nice, Don. We are all “shadow dancing” right now and wearing masks. History repeats itself endlessly… it is good to have poetry so that some can visualize that everything changes and everything stays the same.

  7. I feel such a sense of mysticism in this poem, Don. Surely something must be “holding the earth in all its imperfection” or we would have self-destructed by now!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *