Friday 28 January 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:

  1. A picture tells a thousand words...

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  2. 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.

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

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  4. 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.

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

    Elizabeth

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

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

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  8. 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.

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  9. 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.

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  10. 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!

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

    ~laurie

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  12. Look at this competition
    http://saturdayscream.blogspot.com/

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  13. 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.

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

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  15. that coat, face.. insightful story!

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

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

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  18. The character comes through even without the shoe.

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

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  20. Incredible.

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



    daily athens

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

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

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  23. Humbling and beautiful. Thank you.

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