Dawn #1
Dawn #1 belongs to the following groups:
! Creative Writing & Poetry !, All Out Emotion, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Art Inspired by Dreams, Core [C.O.R.E], Creative, Talented, and Unknown, Freedom to Shine, Graphic Scratch, Live, Love, Dream: May you have a Blessed Christmas Season , Masterpieces: Literary Workshop, Nirvana (Only 1 photographic art and 1 written work will be accepted per day ), Self as Other, Up & Coming Writers, WMG and Writing: Persuing HappinessThe boy spoke to his shadow because he knew it would listen. People were different. They could feign interest and go elsewhere in their minds. His shadow though, it was always attentive, always eager for his words.
He enjoyed talking at sunsets the most. He would sit with his back to the sinking sun, watch his shadow grow ever larger and ask it secret questions. Towering away from him, his shadow listened.
“How do I stop myself from missing her?” he asked.
“You can’t,” said his shadow.
“But it hurts.”
“It always will, though the pain will lessen with time.”
“Why does it have to be like this?”
“It doesn’t have to be any way other than the way it must.”
The boy sighed, his shadow grew.
“I didn’t ask for this,” he said.
“But you let her in,” said his shadow.
“And now she’s gone.”
“And now she’s gone.”
“Where do I go from here?” he asked.
“The only way you can. The moment will not stop and wait for you. It moves always forward, and you with it.”
“I don’t want to move forward.”
“It is not your choice.”
The light cast its evening colors over the boy. He felt warmth on his back and a rift in his chest.
“You cannot stop the sun from setting, you cannot stop your heart from hurting. All you can do is accept the fact and embrace the hurt. It is yours to hold. Accept it as a part of you and it will fade like stars with the dawn. If you ignore it, the dawn will never come.”
“Why did this happen?”
“Because you are human.”
Stars grew in the darkening sky. The boy’s shadow faded with the light.
“Dawn will come,” said his shadow, “But only after you have passed through the night.”
The boy stood in his moment, looked to the stars, felt the sun’s warmth fading from his back. He sighed, walked with his shadow into the night, towards home, towards the coming dawn.
He couldn’t stop the sun from setting, but he could be ready to greet it when it rounded the earth.
Holly Ringland
your writing always makes me feel like i want to pick up every word and check underneath to make sure i haven’t skipped anything, haven’t missed anything, haven’t left anything behind. i love the concept of this piece… a shadow that follows you everywhere, knows everything you do and talks back with the wisdom you often won’t allow yourself to hear. this is so good brad, it hurts.
Brad MacDuff replied
Wow Holly… thank you. The shadow concept is one I’ve used before, stolen from Plato’s theory on reality existing as shadows of a true form. I wonder sometimes about which is the true form. Again, thank you, I hope this day finds you well.
rateotu
very lovely achey story. Reminded me of George MacDonald stories. have you heard of ‘Back of The North Wind’?
Brad MacDuff replied
I haven’t read ‘Back of The North Wind,” though I’m thinking now that I should. Haruki Murakami uses shadows in a few of his stories, most notably, ‘Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World.” Possibly one of the most magical stories I’ve ever read.
CloudChaser
this touched me deeply, just the sheer painful truth of it….our shadow speaking the truth to us…..none of us can stop that sun from setting and sometimes we just don’t want to move forward but eventually we do, maybe leaving a few diamond tears along the way but would we we have it any other way? xx
Brad MacDuff replied
The moment always pushes forward, no matter how much you want it to stop. Thank you for your comment.
butchart
“You cannot stop the sun from setting, you cannot stop your heart from hurting. All you can do is accept the fact and embrace the hurt. It is yours to hold. Accept it as a part of you and it will fade like stars with the dawn. If you ignore it, the dawn will never come.”
your shadow is wise… listen to it…. tough questions that we can only ask of ourselves..as we are the only ones with the answers….. beautiful writing my friend…. similar thoughts to “chasing home” that i posted…...... peace and light…........b
Brad MacDuff replied
I try to listen to my shadow, but at times all it has to offer is the sound of gravel beneath shoes. I haven’t been around much, but I will be reading your “Chasing Home” in a moment. I can already tell you that it will speak to me. Your arrangement of words always astounds.
loramae
In a sense this makes me smile in the idea that we talk to that ever listening shadow…it’s a good thing it’s done in private lol some would cart us away to the loon bin ;O) The catch me phrase for me was… ““Dawn will come,” said his shadow, “But only after you have passed through the night.” evident and obvious, but so hard to settle deep in the heart and mind and have them both understand it in the same way. Brilliant writing Brad :O)
Brad MacDuff replied
Thank you Loramae. I always talk to myself, sometimes answers are impossible to find from the outside. I hear loonie bins aren’t actually all that bad… padded walls, clean white coats, ; ) Though I think it’s the people who never ask themselves questions who need the most help.
Luke Downes
thank you for reminding me.
Brad MacDuff replied
I’m glad it is a reminder and not a new idea.
jcmontgomery
Just as Holly said, I do tend to read your work knowing (and enjoying) the fact that there is as powerful a current below as above. You are so talented my friend. Please never stop writing.
Brad MacDuff replied
You can’t see it, but I’m beaming, red-faced and toothy grinned. Thank you so much Jo, and Happy New Year!
burntblue
this is great… i love the first paragraph especially. beautiful and melancholy.
Brad MacDuff replied
Thank you.
fleece
i like this too. it’s hard to set a tone and pace in so few words, good work :)
Delphine de Noire
Hope for the troubled heart… A beautiful and sensitive piece on yearning Brad…
After a dark night of the soul…
When the dawn comes, it is like a welcome friend…
Mx
Brad MacDuff replied
Thanks Medusa – still feel strange saying that! – I’ve been on a shadow kick lately. What began as a short piece has blossomed into a 4 part and growing series. Not sure how the rest of them stand up – if you have the time I’d appreciate your criticism. Hope all’s well!
Delphine de Noire
Greetings Brad, I may reveal my true identity to you one day. But you would have to be a valued member of my inner sanctum, sworn to secrecy or a fate worse than death… ;-)
I’m honoured and humbled at your invitation and your belief that I’m qualified to give such a critique. However I will rise to the challenge and it will be my pleasure to do so. Please bear with me as I have quite a lot going on at the mo. You will have it by the end of the week.
love&light
Mx
Brad MacDuff replied
Does an invitation to the inner sanctum involve petrification? As to a fate worse than death, it must be something really awful… that’s pointy and chafes and stuff. Take your time with criticism, it will allow me time to steel myself for the stoney eyed gaze of the truth!
Delphine de Noire
Not unless you that’s what you desire… ;-)
Be prepared…
Mx
RosaCobos
Perfect companions,
shadows.
I talk with them too
in my fashion.
The boy trusst in the light,
in the echo of his own soul.
Good for him…
love, sometimes needs forgetfulness.
Rosa (really beautiful)
RosaCobos
Because I love any sou that can talk with the shadows…. they are trustful…this writing deserves it.
Rosa
Brad MacDuff replied
Wow! Thank you Rosa. Sometimes shadows make the best company.
Atheum
Incredible, Brad. I don’t know where to begin myself… Absolutely amazing… Wow… I can tell that you are a very wise person; You speak from a more powerful state than most people do. Believe, I know. My shadow told me. :)
Brad MacDuff replied
Thank you Atheum. I don’t feel any more wise than the next person – quite the opposite most days – but sometimes I get lucky with words. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. Much obliged!
lianne
Dawn will come but only after you have been through the night…how profoundly true, and sometimes the night is endless. But I think that is partially because we simply refuse to open our eyes and let the sun awaken us anew. Instead, with eyes firmly closed, we relive the dream – and the loss – over and over again. Yes, it damn well hurts to have loved so much, to give up the dream and it’s easy to wish away the growth that comes from that experience but I count myself both blessed and lucky because I had the better part. Though it may hurt like hell not to have been loved back, though that is a great sadness, the greater tragedy would be never to have known both the joy – and the grief – of loving that deeply.
I love this boy – have loved him fiercely from your first word about him – and love him even more for this vulnerable confession.
Brad MacDuff replied
For once you have me speechless – a difficult feat. Thank you so much Lianne.