This is a tumultuous study. Three tiers of study — the photograph of the attic, the “Shadow Light Still Ablaze” piece, and the reviews about relationship. The second two-line stanza points me back to your piece “Quick Glances”. That concept of ‘curiosity about one another among humans’ could keep a philosophizing round table discussion going into the year 2030. Just the verbs ‘signifies, satisfies, nullifies, indemnifies’ would be juicy dishes at that table, fighting with, defining, embellishing and deconstructing each other; such a robust menu.
Stanza five is a lovely question. I wonder about my 72 journals maybe introducing me to my 4-yr-old granddaughters when they mature, for they may not know me otherwise if my days end sooner than later. My answer to Stanza five is ‘no’ to dependent on personal experience, and ‘yes’ the “well-defined shadow” remains spirited enough to cause shivers about the man who wrote: “Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”
Your poem defines itself so very well, as does the title itself…and the image chosen is perfect. I find myself studying the photograph, wondering how the piano was moved there, who played it over the years, wondering what’s in the boxes once sealed with shiny tape, where the curious door goes. Those last three lines, Odin, are sublime. ~~ djl

Honestly.... relationships are like ping pong, or tennis. As long as the ball (honest loving communication) continues moving back and forth between both parties, the relationship continues. You get the gist. John's right: "absence does not make the heart grow fonder," but one thing I know from too much experience is that: 'familiarity breeds contempt." My extended family is a living example of this. All the best. r

An interesting question. If I am an "absence" in people's lives I note that I am soon forgotten, and I am still alive. Nephews and nieces have all disappeared into the wind, I never hear from them. The many people I have known while living abroad, all gone, disappeared, no longer communicate. Absence does not make the heart grow fonder.

Yes, throughout history great artists were often estranged from their families. It is probably the result of artists requiring much time alone in order to create. Often seeming aloof for doing so, not engaging in normal family rituals and pastimes.

I once stopped at my brother's home where his blended family of teenagers and college students joined me around the table with pizza. They were so full of questions about my earlier life and about their father's role in it, like when he stayed one year with me while he attended his freshman year of college. So, I know the younger generation is interested in my work and may have read my books.

But my sister, still stuck in what she calls, our family worldview, complained to me last year why I didn't go along with the family, particularly when it came to political matters. As I look at our life history, there seems to be a number of political contradictions.

At least my twin brother has generously bought and read all of my books, even though I would give him all of them in a minute. And then, while he is always quick to tell me when my memory fails me, has told me he likes my books very much and has shared them with others.

The beauty of being on the Internet is someone can look me up and find me two or three generations now.

You even have a Wikipedia page. But it needs to be filled out by your family or you.

Ron… Sorry for being so long-winded. ;-)