Self Portrait
Who are we but collections of our ‘selves’?
Puzzles pieced together by memory.
Experiences housed in skin bags. Halves
seeking wholeness, but e’er in assembly.
Captured in pixels or film, photoshopped;
filters applied; curves adjusted; brightness
added or reduced; shadows dodged or ‘shopped.
Not happy with the resulting likeness.
Make it black and white–desaturate life.
Yes, now I see! Those stark lines and gray curves,
soft focus, fine detail–sharpen that strife.
Am I in the final image preserved?
Or was I lost in the details refined?
Can one image ever, myself, define?
~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~
Inspired byBulldog Travel’s Selfie prompt and Jennifer Nichole Wells whose entry highlighted this! And because I have expressive eyes, this week’s photo challenge by the Daily Post: Eye Spy
Wonderful self-portrait. Both the pictures and your poem. I have nominated you for the 3 Quotes in 3 days Challenge. Participate if you wish. Here’s the link you can check-out from my blog: https://mandibelle16.wordpress.com/2016/04/24/one-to-three-quotes-in-three-days-all-at-once/
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Thank you and thank you for the nomination 🙂 I’m not sure if I can fit that in my editorial calendar but I’ll see if I can.
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thank you very much for sharing these beautiful self portrait
I’m glad ti discover and follow your blog
I invite you to visit mine too and feel free to follow
Anita
Kisses
https://femmeetinfos.wordpress.com
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Thanks for stopping by 🙂
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you’re welcome
🙂
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Very expressive eyes and I like the poem too.
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Thank you 🙂
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And, apropos of nothing, I want to observe here, that I think you are a very kind, gracious, lovely person. I’ve seen how you interact with people, and how you take the time to visit blogs and leave good comments in a consistent way. I, alas, am not as consistent. I get tired of the screen, and go away — but I always like how you conduct yourself.
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Thank you 🙂 I love to read; stories and poems are like candy, so the blogosphere is one big candy store for me. 🙂 I just wish I could spend more time reading. There are so many blogs I have not yet read.
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A beautiful set of photographs and a lovely poem!
“Am I in the final image preserved?
Or was I lost in the details refined?
Can one image ever, myself, define?”
What great questions!
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Thank you 🙂 I was pondering those questions at the time. Still have no answer for them.
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Great piece
Touches every point loud and clear
Short and powerful
Thank you for your like
As always Sheldon
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🙂 thank you for your kind words. You’re welcome.
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My English is not enough to comment such a written art work, but I feel it as sharp moment… an enigmatic and yet accurate reflexion of self. Congrats ;).
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You hit it on the head. You’re English is good enough to express your praise and I thank you for it. 🙂
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A beautiful mind!
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Thank you 🙂
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No, thank you. It’s nice to know, we aren’t alone. Your site is very well put together. Let me know, if you want to share any tips. Happy blogging. #NOTHINGMatters
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Same to you, Melinda. Happy Journeys
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Thank you 🙂
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Nice
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🙂 great pictures and poetry, Melinda…yes indeed, we are many pieces of ourselves… 🙂
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Thank you! Does that make identity the glue that holds us together? I’ve been wondering that since I wrote and posted the sonnet yesterday
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you are welcome..i think so; our many parts make up our identity, and there are many parts 🙂
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2000 parts according to a soap commercial I saw years ago! So identity is a work in progress I guess.
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Lever 2000 – I remember it 😀 …we add to our identities until we pass from this world, yes 😀
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Ah that was it! I do not intend to pass from this world. I’ll go out kicking and screaming. 🙂
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Welcome to the ‘iain’t going quietly’ club:D
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It’s so nice to have a larger picture of you! Hello, Melinda! Nice to meet you!
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Nice to meet you too! Are you taking the poetry class in December?
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Has it started? I signed up but have received no email.
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No, it starts next week 12/7. I just checked because I was dying for the first day! I’m so happy to be “attending” class with you again!
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Me too! I’m taking the one about commenting too! 😉
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If I could reply to your “……And now you know what I look like :)” comment I’d say – beautiful and awesome.
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Thank you! I wasn’t feeling it earlier while bombarded at work but I’m feeling it now. There’s something about the act of creating a self portrait that makes you realize that you look better than you thought. The camera never lies… 🙂
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I need to make some self portraits then. I really never do.
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I didn’t either but then I started going to Renaissance fairs and I had to take a selfie of myself in my Renaissance duds. So that started a habit. 🙂
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looks like a good habit 🙂 I’ve been to a renaissance fair once I believe, quite a long time ago. High time to go again I suppose.
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Gorgeous words and I love these selfies!
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Thank you 🙂
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…And now you know what I look like 🙂
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