Analysis of A Shadow in the Rain

Tim Seigel 1959 (Iowa)



Born from a light post on a black rainy night,
My lonely shadow trailing, failing to be noticed,
Until in angular movement up a brick building,
it slowly circled around beside me revealing
My head drooping on neckless shoulder;
rising in forward motion.
Now it is tall, as I am tall; a dark, faceless,
A wet reflection of me against the refulgent wall.
I turned my head to the left toward the past,
Revealing my long, curved nose.
A look of dignified wisdom as I foolishly
Stood in the lonely rain wondering who I am
And why.

This weeping apparition hides my eyes and tears
For shadows I will never see again.
Past the light, my shadow proceeds before me  growing taller with each soggy, aching step,
Until the dark consumes my empty spirit
Passing in the night.


Scheme AXBBXXXXXXXXX XXXXA
Poetic Form
Metre 11011101101 110110101110 0101001010110 1101001011010 11101110 1001010 111111110110 010101101011 11111010101 0101111 011101011100 100101100111 01 11001011101 111110101 101110101110101110101 01010111010 10001
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 772
Words 153
Sentences 7
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 13, 5
Lines Amount 18
Letters per line (avg) 34
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 302
Words per stanza (avg) 70

About this poem

A poem about grief, confusion, sadness, revealed in my shadow.

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Written on June 12, 2023

Submitted by frtjseigel on June 12, 2023

45 sec read
109

Tim Seigel

I am a Catholic priest living in Northern Illinois. more…

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