Exposure

I am sitting in the park, camera at the ready
I am a vampire preserving that which should be fleeting

I am at home on this side of the moment

A man stares at me for a long while and smiles
I pretend not to see him
feign disinterest

He takes a careful drag from a cigarette and I focus the lens

blur the edges
adjust the light
steal his image

embalm this moment

Reviews

[Devons]

The photographer as "a vampire preserving that which should be fleeting" is a great concept; defining such a person in a way like some predator with good intentions..
The poem really does 'capture' the essence of an artist as an outsider, and, rather like a photograph in itself, depicts the nature of the photographer.
"I am at home on this side of the moment" ..This line has a subtle, but powerful resonance. It makes one think of photography as an implement of time, and something which human existence and even the photographer cannot hang on to: and therefore the anticipation of capturing such a moment is reassuring, if not secure. A mechanical thing can do this, yet an organic, sentient thing cannot. It shows also how an artist can freeze time somehow and redefine the beauty represented by the image - and evoking the impression of this moment in life that we do not always recognise at the time. And to "embalm this moment" represents everything that such an art-form exists for and can achieve which the human mind alone cannot sustain beyond memory. And, like embalming itself, preserves something which is dead and gone from the moment it is captured.
A really compact, concise and intelligent representation of the art of photography and its relationship to human life. It is the essence of a photograph depicted in words; the words in themselves provoking thoughts and impressions in much the same way an image itself does. Good job! ;)

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Seeing things in a different light and putting them into perspective... this is a very interesting piece with intrigue and mystery... be a great opening scene to a dark story.

[Coyote Poetry]

I like the set-up of this story. You create a scene and in-stilled a moment in time. A excellent poem. Thank you.
Coyote

[.]

"blur the edges
adjust the light
steal his image

embalm this moment'

{God--I Love This---great descriptive-imagery}

james:-)

[The Analog Kid]

Nice description of how a photographer operates sometimes. Very real to me/.