in a flash and shutter
I, a small black box,
am not selective
I just size up what is before me
and show it faithfully
truthfully
I change as all things do
my ancestors caught time
a trait I inherited
and put in frame
they saw a world of color
but could only show it in black and white
after a flash and billow of smoke
thrown out in frustration
our style has changed
as much as the ones we capture
over time
a little preserved time
I am useful
and am proud the things I create
my children taken away from me
when they are developed
I feel a sadness
but that is all I'm for
I do have flaws
I turn my subjects to demons
with red eyes
what a skill to have
to catch time
or rather a time
I can catch the wind
it tosses the woman's hair
she takes out one of my children
a teenager of about fifteen
she smiles but not as she smiles
when I usually catch her
it is dimmer and her eyes strangely mist
I wish I could catch her now
but no one has asked
it is a shame
it may have been one of my best creations
© julie simonson 2009
examine carefully how you are using words for emotions or feelings ("frustration" and "proud") - are they necessary? also try this exercise: make your poem half as long without sacrificing any of its meaning. look to cut adverbs and adjectives and subjective explanations (which are often unnecessary)
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