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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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