Hand Shadows Precis

In the poem, "Hand Shadows," by Mary Cornish, Cornish uses imagery to create a childish tone in her poem She uses imagery as a message about her past childhood, or an imaginary character's childhood.  Of the many times Cornish used imagery in her writing, there are few in particular that really bring back a childish sense. The first she uses is that her father "put his hands in the white light of the lantern," thus creating an image of a child and their father making shadow puppets together. Cornish then continues, "his palms became a horse that flicked its ears and bucked," again creating a childlike image in the reader's mind. Then lastly, she continues later on again, "my father's hands became two birds, linked by a thumb..." again creating that sense of childlike humor. By using imagery in her poem, Cornish was able to create a childlike poem for many to relate to.