© 2022 Rachel L. Shumate | All rights reserved.
It’s been a little while since I’ve posted some of my photography. I’ve still been playing though. And I thought I’d share one of my latest self-portrait projects along with my non-poem.
What’s a non-poem, you ask…? Well, it’s when I attempt to write a poem, only to discover that it follows none, zero, zip rules of poetry. So, I’m going to be a rule-breaker, just this once, and go with it anyway. I feel it’s kind of fitting with this theme, and frankly, I just don’t care, haha.
It’s been a long two years this side of the computer, but I’m thankful to still be LIVING through this pandemic. (I hope to continue doing that living thing!) Sending love to all of those who have experienced loss during this time, whether it was the loss of a loved one, or the loss of your sanity – hugs.
My non-poem:
“Surviving”
It’s been two years; it’s been too long.
So many lives lost; it’s so damn wrong.
It’s been two years; it’s been too hard.
So much isolation; we’re all so scarred.
It’s been two years; it’s been too sad.
So much dispute; everyone’s so mad.
It’s been two years; it’s been too much.
So many are broken; we’re so out of touch.
It’s been two years; it’s been too long…
How many more years will this go on?
About the Image: The hooded figure (yes; that’s me) is wearing a mask mimicking those worn by doctors during the Black Plague, and holding a sign for help made out of a facemask like the ones we are currently using during our modern-day plague. Other textures were applied to the image to give the environment an unclean vibe.
PS: After my husband saw this image, he thought I was completely nuts. I told him that he simply didn’t understand my creative spirit. And he should appreciate that I now have a vast collection of kick-ass Halloween costumes, haha. Or maybe, I could go back to Italy and wear this mask for the Carnival of Venice. I like that idea…
