Precis: "Hand Shadows"

In “Hand Shadows”, Mary Cornish, in a hopeful tone, discusses the idea of light overcoming darkness. She creates this notion through her unique imagery and setting of a camping trip shadow show to the cycle of life and death. Throughout her poem, she creates this life cycle through the father’s shadow art. The father depicts a swam killed by an alligator, but later depicts the life of another bird taking flight. This imagery shows the notion that life doesn’t stop with one loss, but rather new life is born. Additionally, the setting of shadow art adds another layer to her theme. Shadow art uses a light to shine through the darkness and create images. The father, by shining light in the darkness of the tent, depicts how even when there is darkness more light will come around. This can be scene in the description of a star that goes out, but more light is born. Mary Cornish accomplishes her goal of showing the prevailing light in a dark world.