We have a “Hill’s Hoist”. I do not know whether similar devices are in use in your part of the world, however a Hill’s Hoist is a rotary clothesline. It consists of a central pole with four fixed “arms” radiating out at right angles. Wires are stretched between the arms from which to hang clothes. There is a winder mechanism to hoist the wet clothes skywards. The arms rotate on the center pole for the convenience of the poor soul whose task it is to hang out the washing to dry. In this household that task falls to me! Naturally, in this chore, I am joined by both Liquorice and Keaton. Liquorice will hunt briefly for insects or lizards in the nearby garden then assume her supervisory role by lying in the shade of a nearby shrub and studying my every movement.
Well, almost my every movement, for there is Keaton! Our dear sweet Keaton.
He has the lovable, if not dopey habit of trying to capture the shadows cast from the end of each “arm” as they float ghost-like across the lawn! It is only the shadow of the ends of each arm that entice his attention, not the arms themselves or the various shaped shadows of washing as it too parades around him. Keaton lunges at a shadow only to have it disappear, swallowed by his own not inconsiderable blanket of shade! Or, as his teasing Dad swings the clothesline around, he will chase a shadow around the lawn, and should it merge with the that of another object then Keaton simply turns, knowing that the shadow from another arm has been following him! This Keaton pounces upon, only to watch as it too gracefully glides from his grasping paws! He is never annoyed at his failure to capture one of these elusive “phantoms”, moreover each “escape” energizes him to greater efforts for their eventual capture.
When this first became a habit, many months ago, I had to question whether this little boy had actually been bred for brilliance. Enlightenment came slowly to his Dad. For Keaton would stop and look to me whenever we passed the clothesline, willing me to make those shadows dance so that he may make play with them! If the day were overcast, then he instinctively knew no shadows would appear. Moonlit nights would have this knowledgeable young fellow searching once more for that he cannot hold, and we spend many delightful moments entertaining each other during journeys outside attending to nature’s calling. Liquorice for her part will lay down, once again in the moon’s shade, and watch, bemused, either enjoying our antics by proxy, or considering the mental stability of her two boys!
If I time it right during the day, when shadow from the end of an arm is cast near the base of the upright central pole I can manipulate the shadow from one side of the pole to the other. Thus Keaton is obliged to jump backward, around the pole then forward again, only to have to repeat the exercise many times as I teasingly move that shadow back and forth! For his part, Keaton is aware that if he positioned himself on the sun’s side those mysterious phantoms would again take refuge in his own shade!
Afternoon, with the sun lowering in the west, adds another dimension in Keaton’s unending quest for the fleeting shadows’ capture. They no longer lurk beneath the clothesline but fly in elliptical orbits over the back lawn. Now Keaton must run further and faster seeking his elusive quarry. Without success the young master bounds after a silhouetted image, grabbing at it with his mouth. But the silhouette slides easily away. Keaton’s head, still held low, will watch the departing shadow for a second then turn his head eager to greet another’s silent approach.
Best fun is when I spin the arms around at speed! Keaton rejoices as he races to catch the ghost-like dancing images, round and round he races, under Liquorice’s watchful eye. The chase excites Liquorice and surely she would join in, but for her, such effort would need something of greater substance than that which amuses her young master!
Arthur Witten
Liquorice – Chasing the shadows of moonbeams, is that lunar-see?
Keaton – I was simply studying the interaction between the flow of solar generated or lunar reflected photons with the angle of incidence to objects in motion and their relationship to chronological change thus further extending the horizons of our accumulated scientific knowledge.