My Shadow Walked Away From Me

My shadow walked away from me

I saw it go away and I said nothing

Hoping that it would return

After a brief, lonely, sojourn

Return to make the same moves as me

In a hope to attract it back

I tried standing in a lambent light

Then I stood in the bright summer sun

It wouldn’t come back in any way

Neither black or grey

Or to darken any colour underneath me

Whatever I did it would not come back

To stand before, beneath or behind me

I turned on a table lamp

Hoping not to frighten it away

The softer light I vainly hoped

May coax my shadow back

I stood waiting for hours

It did not appear

As I switched off the lamp

I thought I saw it fleetingly

It was but my cat curious of me

Now how can I leave the house

Without someone else to shadow me

Without my shadow to follow me

Or walk ahead or behind as he often did

His legs joined mine at the feet

His arms joined my arms

His fingers joined mine in every small action

His head turned and nodded

Just like me

One day I hope he will return

So we can walk together

Once more again in harmony.

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I don't remember any of the good times, They were few and far between, Only the bad times, The three week sulks, The temper tantrums, The silence of meal times, The brooding menace of each waking day, The not knowing how each innocent word, Would fall on those temper attuned ears, The rare smile, The rare laughter. Above all, The silence.

I often think.

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