Fiddler on the Roof rehearsals are consuming my life right now. On top of that I have tons of work to get finished for my research and my classes. Looks like a week of little sleep. Here is my luminous object poem.

The Lamp

Flick of a switch and current flows
Illumination starts within your tungsten core
Darkness flees your warmth and brightness
Tall and far-reaching
No corners are left for the gray world of night

Welcoming beams of electricity
Allowing all to see the world
Power, harnessed to our will
Power, contained within a bulb

A flame may be more romantic
But it is victim to the whims of nature’s breath
You bow to no one but time
Nature’s sweet breath has not effect on your glory

A shade attempts to damper
The joyous beams emitted effortlessly to brighten the world
Direction is granted, but is not mindlessly followed
As the luminous products of power fluently passes through its cover
To illuminate the room with warmth

Darkness is your foe
Written words
Colorful pictures
The caring face of a friend
Meaningless without your source
To shine upon and reveal their depth

Upon my command your brilliance is ended
And darkness is once again allowed to reign
I know not to fear
Because your power is at my command
Waiting to flood the darkness
With light
Joan Beckman, 2004