Smoke and Shadows

By Joanne Van Leerdam

It's a common thing.  As we go through life, we discover that people and things are frequently not what they seem to be, and what we understand to be the truth of our own experience often turns out to be something quite different instead. Life is as full of illusions as it is of genuine experiences.

False friends abound. Trials hurt, but then deliver unexpected strength and blessings. People put up smokescreens to hide their true intentions or feelings; and only sometimes do we ever discover why. The world seems hateful until someone delivers light and love in a surprising way.

The poems in this new collection explore some of the illusions and deceptions people experience in their lives, the clarity and wisdom gained from hindsight, and the lessons we can learn from them.

"Smoke and shadows yield to glimpses of light—

Only then we begin to see:

When we learn to perceive things as they are,

We can have peace with whatever will be."

• Language: English
• Publisher: WordyNerdBird
• Release date: Jan 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386676072

Joanne Van Leerdam

Joanne Van Leerdam is a poet, blogger, writer, thinker, puzzler, teacher, traveller, photographer and generally nice person. Despite having lived all her life in Australia, she has, thus, far, avoided being killed or consumed by any of the deadly wildlife, which is probably a good thing.  Other than Australia, Canada is her favourite place in the world.  In addition to writing powerful, thought-provoking poetry and short-but-incredibly meaningful stories,  she teaches senior high school English, History and Drama/Production. She is an active member and performer in her local theatre company.   Her poetry is contemporary, sensual, moody and easy to read - and it will get you in the feelings.

Book preview

"Things are seldom what they seem,

Skim milk masquerades as cream,

Highlows pass as patent leathers,

Jackdaws strut in peacock’s feathers."

Gilbert & Sullivan, H.M.S, Pinafore

Copyright ©2018 by Joanne Van Leerdam.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Cover Image: Labeled as free for commercial reuse from pixabay.com

Edited and enhanced by Joanne Van Leerdam, 2018.

1st Edition, January 2019

Published by WordyNerdBird for

Joanne Van Leerdam

www.jvlpoet.com

[e-mail]

CONTENTS

The Simulacrum

Mirror, Mirror

Masquerade

The Demons Dance

Cruelty

Jackals

Suffocating

Poison Chalice

Not Famous

Prodigal Daughter

Pandora

Silence

Adrift

Awoken

The Grey

None Of Those Things

Rigmarole

Final Notice

The Windows

Roadblock

Drifting Away

Letting Go

The Blue-Inked Girls

Moonlight Love

You, Amy Winehouse And Me

Living In Babylon

Frost and Fire

The Burn

Out Of Joint

Aftermath

Gone

Smoke In Our Eyes

The Past Is Dead: It Is Now Buried

The Shape of What Remains

New

Sledgehammer

The Alchemist

Candle

Seed

Full

In A Meadow Bounded By Ancient Trees

Curious Dreamer

Shine

Fairy Lights

Sunset Rendezvous

Sanctuary

Ambrosia

My Child

Finally

The Simulacrum

––––––––

It is not what it appears to be

For although it looks quite real,

Our perceptions are easily beguiled—

We believe what we see and feel;

But life is full of illusions,

Sleight of hand and trick of eye:

It’s only when we look back upon it

That hindsight reveals the lie.

––––––––

Situations are rarely what they seem:

Confidence can lead to danger,

Smokescreens divert us from the truth

And teach us to fear the stranger,

When peril often lurks close to home

And trust is so often misplaced,

The people we know can be monsters

While the good are unfairly disgraced.

––––––––

The simulacrum is a deception

A distortion of reality,

We must look beyond appearances

To discern truth with clarity.

Smoke and shadows yield to glimpses of light—

Only then we begin to see:

When we learn to perceive things as they are

We can have peace with whatever will be.

Mirror, Mirror

––––––––

Mirror, mirror, on the wall— she began,

But scowled as the glass turned black,

Then she hastily stepped backwards

As the