Exiting Light
Experience more than born to die
Perhaps, that is my largest lie?
Breaks down, lines streak
Underground drive
Blinding fear through tunnel vision
Exiting light at end of life
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Care for a reading?
*photo by me
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One Shot Wednesday!
Participate by posting a poem & sharing feedback
It’s an honor to be your host this week
@ One Stop Poetry
Dustus Blog 
December 28, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Very fine match between image and words…like how you extend the metaphor in this one.
December 28, 2010 at 5:02 pm
well if you drive through a tunnel exceeding the speed limit with no lights on the exiting light may loom quickly (I’m not saying I’ve ever played chicken in a tunnel)
great visual for life my friend
December 28, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Just a piece of great brightness… so much can be said and meant in a few lines…
D.
December 28, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Being born to die seems so pointless… but perhaps dying to be born again balances the equation a bit?
Nice One Shot, Adam!
December 28, 2010 at 5:21 pm
you shouldn’t take photos like this while driving…ts..ts.. (psst – i’m doing the same…)
sometimes life can feel a bit lik a tunnel..i agree..and i like poems with questions..
December 28, 2010 at 5:21 pm
It’s all about what we do in between. The end line in the reading certainly sounds more of a question than a finale. Like it a lot Adam.
December 28, 2010 at 5:28 pm
A conundrum, but a fine poem, nonetheless.
Lady Nyo
December 28, 2010 at 5:28 pm
“blinding fear through tunnel vision”…ooooh, ahhhh…yeah!
December 28, 2010 at 5:29 pm
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Adam Dustus, Leslie Moon. Leslie Moon said: Exiting Light http://wp.me/pnd9L-1YU #oneshotwednesday […]
December 28, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Very interesting., and great photo I tend to believe in something beyond.
December 28, 2010 at 6:23 pm
like you..i enjoy driving fast, with my mind set on the nothing and the everything that can flash in a sparkle of light..LOVE THE PHOTO..and the poem is thought provoking as you always manage to stir my mind Adam..:)
December 28, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Ooo love the image, and the sensation of speed you created in this.
December 28, 2010 at 7:00 pm
I like the ambiguity of the last line, very effective. I write a lot when I’m driving, in my head of course, because that would just be dangerous 😉
December 28, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Terse but complete and very visual–the words seem to have a play relationship to each other, circling the meanings around the serious undertones like a kids dance game. Very nice.
December 28, 2010 at 7:33 pm
Fantastic photo and even better is the symmetry between the photo and your poem. Thank you for sharing.
December 28, 2010 at 7:48 pm
Balanced between the seem and hope, maybe less conundrum than quest. Tight write and compressed between the lines much philosophy to consider. Thanks, Gay
December 28, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Fantastic blend of metaphor and image.
December 28, 2010 at 8:01 pm
in the end i hope the light is waiting for me as well…thanks for the assist tonight bro…happy one shot!
December 28, 2010 at 8:03 pm
..and just which meaning of “light” are you intending here, sir? Cagey you are, oh yes.
December 28, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Light feel with so much meaning, well done!
December 28, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Those first two lines are really powerful!
December 28, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Love the many meanings that are at play in this one shot and great picture…
December 28, 2010 at 10:37 pm
really love the short punch. Great work!
December 28, 2010 at 11:07 pm
thought provoking and nicely written!
thank you
December 28, 2010 at 11:20 pm
We exit light — to what? Darkness? Grayness? Abesence of light?
Provocative poem, my friend, and well done indeed.
December 28, 2010 at 11:57 pm
This one packs quite a punch! Nice pairing of the poem and picture! Mine is here. http://razzamadazzle.wordpress.com/2010/12/28/snow-bird/
December 29, 2010 at 12:07 am
Great escape! I love the way the lines run unpredictably and the sound of them with your voice. Thanks, Adam.
December 29, 2010 at 1:03 am
Jeez Adam….
All You One Stop people Kick Ass!!!
I’m a huge fan of your weekly reading.
December 29, 2010 at 2:30 am
Hi Adam– this is a fascinating twist on how many have described death as melding into the light– great job@ also makes me think of that tunnel in Paris Diana Spencer had the grave misfortune to be killed in– the sense of speed, a jettisoning from one state to the other. thanks too for yur words on my long in coming requiem of my great dog Fanfare…xxxj
December 29, 2010 at 4:33 am
Oh maaaaaaaaaannnn…you really have voiced my thoughts, Adam!! I have often wondered what it would be like, at the moment (of truth)… do I really wanna see that “last light”? Maybe… maybe not… I guess there’s only 1 way I will know… (sigh)
An excellent and thought provoking piece this was… and the photograph was THE perfect complement for your fine wordplay… bravo!
Happy New Year, Adam.. May this new year fill your life with lots of bright light, love and joy…
December 29, 2010 at 6:06 am
I just go around with my eyes closed. That way I can’t see the end of life coming. It’s like I’m there already.
What am I saying? 😮
December 29, 2010 at 7:58 am
First and last lines great bookends for the image above.
December 29, 2010 at 8:22 am
Your poem is a beautiful reminder that impact and imagery can be infused within a short verse. In fact, your poem says more than many longer draw-out poems. Great job!
December 29, 2010 at 11:09 am
How beautifully it seeps through the vulnerable state of mind. Nice pic to go with it too 🙂
December 29, 2010 at 11:13 am
Ah yes, a classic metaphor for life, but well-executed Adam. “Bright” image that packs a wallop of truth – but the question remains: stepping from the tunnel, exiting life, what do we find? Certainly we know what we leave behind…
December 29, 2010 at 11:52 am
A bright message in this Adam….well done! 🙂
December 29, 2010 at 11:55 am
Three words: Vigorous, vauntless, straightforward.
Two more Words: Great Job!
December 29, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Adam, wonderfully said in so few words. Thanks for visiting my blog.
Nice to meet you. Happy New Year.
Pamela
December 29, 2010 at 12:47 pm
It is so owerful to hear you read it, Adam. Well done and thought-provoking.
December 29, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Much depth in your words Adam, wonderful.
Anita.
December 29, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Adam, I really enjoyed the opportunity to hear you read this piece. I dig poetry that begs the individual to dig deeper into life and the core questions….fantastic job…got me thinking..again!
December 29, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Nice, Adam, a powerful reminder to live life in the moment.
December 29, 2010 at 2:16 pm
very powerful write… compliments the picture very well.
December 29, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Beautiful photograph Adam, and I certainly hope you stick around casting your “light” for many years!
~Going through my own “tunnel” currently, finding the lights that reach me deep enough within to KNOW I can DO THIS, on my own…if you knew…
A shorter piece this week for me, a tough time writing and almost wrote a dear OneShot lastnight with changes going on, a bit frustrated…
I just have to keep thinking of the little engine that could 🙂
BEAUTIFUL light YOU dear friend!
December 29, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Wow! That was amazing! I was right there! Great job!
December 29, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Intriguing, smart-minded work.
December 29, 2010 at 7:09 pm
The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel continues to shine through your words and artwork. I am constantly amazed at how you can say so much in so few words. Your work is the definition of quality! Always a pleasure to read…
December 29, 2010 at 10:10 pm
Very cool, Adam. I have dreamed this and the colors in your photo are spot on, but I was not on a road but hallway……..Caused me to pause.
December 29, 2010 at 11:43 pm
Dustus, as with many other commenters, I love the tie-in with the photo. Cool way to consider what comes “next.” 🙂
December 30, 2010 at 1:57 am
What a wonderful combination of visuals, words and voice. Fabulous to experience.
December 30, 2010 at 10:52 am
This has such depth in few words. Very thought provoking. I must recognize my tunnel vision and live, before I the light strikes.
December 30, 2010 at 2:42 pm
That’s one wild ride. Hope it wasn’t personal experience. 😉
Nice one shot!
December 30, 2010 at 8:35 pm
This does indeed have a certain darkness about it.
Nicely crafted. awesome picture too.
December 31, 2010 at 12:32 pm
One powerful yet compact stanza, forcing us to ask our own personal questions about life and death.
I wish you lots of light for the New Year my friend!
December 31, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Fabulous work…
The picture fits really well with your poem.. 🙂
Happy New Year 🙂
December 31, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Nice photo Adam! The first thing your image brought to my mind was the scene of Princess Diana’s death – but that was horrible and dark where your photo is golden, full of life and adrenalin. Well done – accompanied thoughts intriguing, especially “blinding fear through tunnel vision.” That’s how I used to feel every time I fell off a horse. 🙂
December 31, 2010 at 9:17 pm
Exiting light…..ironic view…dustus at life end….coming and going light is always what we focus on….Happy New Year…bkm
January 5, 2011 at 6:25 pm
i like it