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May 29, 2005

A History of My Errors

First, the new version:

And Like Shadows, Flow Away

Meet me on the plain of glass, fly to me
there where we name us the summit of all.
Come to me across the water, I see
you chasing reflections until you fall
in love with a shadow twin. Together
we will bind reflection, shackle shadows
until we, lords of the world though we may
be, fold up and like shadows flow away.


© 2005, Steven Riddle

And the version circa 2002:

And Like Shadows, Flow Away

Meet me on a plain
of glass.
Fly to me there
where
we are the only monuments.
Come to me
across the water
chasing your reflection
until you fall
in love
with a shadow
twin. Together
we will bind
our reflections,
shackle
the shadows that chase
us. And flow away.


© 2005, Steven Riddle

I like the free verse version. It means differently than the more structured version. But I like the meaning imposed by structure. It forces one's hand--you need to make some decisions--for good or for ill. In this case, perhaps to the detriment of the original. But each now makes a statement and the statements are distinctly different.

Posted by Steven Riddle at May 29, 2005 6:30 PM

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Comments

I'm not so good at this. Which is free, and which is structured? Either way, I like 'em.

Posted by: Jack Perry at May 29, 2005 7:42 PM

Dear Jack,

Free verse has no rhyme, meter, or syllabic scheme behind it.

And thank you.

shalom,

Steven

Posted by: Steven Riddle at May 30, 2005 10:02 AM

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