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July 24, 2014

Poetry Friday--"Shadows"

Caption: Young girls going to work in Mill No. 1 Cocheco Mfg. Co., Dover, N.H. I saw them go to work regularly, day after day. May 17, 1909--Noon. Location: Dover, New Hampshire. Photo taken by Lewis Wickes Hine, courtesy Library of Congress.
Shadows

There is always someone
in the shadows.
Always watching.
Keeping tabs.
Making sure no one meets
with gentlemen.
Or talks to labor organizers.

Watching us.
Their eyes lingering.
Their thoughts...
Need I tell you what their
thoughts might be?
Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu,
priez pour nous
...

© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.

If you haven't been following my Sketchbook Project progression, you can catch up by clicking here.

Sylvia and Janet will be hosting the Round-Up for this week at Poetry for Children. And while you're there, take a look at the history of children's poetry over the past 25 years in this post.

19 comments:

  1. I've found at least one other Hine mill photo with a man lurking in a doorway, and in that one, too, there's a young girl nearby. Creepy to the max!

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  2. Interesting subject! Interesting poem! Creepy guy!

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  3. I don't know, I'm also pretty creeped out by the stalker photographer who is taking their picture after watching them "day after day." Great eye and ear for detail, Diane.

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    1. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ncl2004000142/PP/

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  4. Creepy photo indeed! Your poem captured the feeling these young women probably experienced!

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  5. Whoa! That shadow is spooky! Your poem captures the scene perfectly. = )

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    1. Check out the link I added under Michelle's comment.

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  6. I didn't see him until I read the comments, which is also creepy. :-0 Beautifully written and haunting.

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    1. Thanks, Keri! I find you miss a lot of detail depending on what kind of device you use.

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  7. It's interesting to read your poem, then look back to the photo and imagine which of the girls is speaking. Another beautiful poem.

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    1. I imagine it's the girl in profile on the right. She's keeping a watchful eye.

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    2. That's the girl I chose.

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  8. SUPER creepy. I never would've noticed the person in the doorway if not for your poem (which is just right for this photo). The figure seems ghostly because I don't see shoes. Do you?

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  9. Diane, I am always intrigued by the character's voice that you pop out. This poem is a striking example of this. The gentleman in the shadow was captured wonderfully by your narration.

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  10. I'm with Keri -- I didn't see the lurker until I read the comments. I wonder if Hines even realized that mirror of himself was there.

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  11. Hi, Diane. Same here. I didn't see the shadow until I read your poem. Truly chilling -- something about that hat. And what a contrast with the happy girls. I like that, in your poem, they are aware of his presence.

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