-- ME AND MY SHADOW --

John Herlihy

Ah, my shadow, my ape,

Always there, never late.

A most endearing mate,

Ever willing to simply wait.

Always there by my side,

From this ape I never hide.

The only one I can confide,

In my footsteps to reside.

Always cavorts in wonder,

Never steals my thunder.

Follows when I run asunder,

Mimics me when I plunder.

If I am dark, my shadow fair,

I may look, but it does stare.

In my fear, I may never dare,

But my shadow still has flair.

Thru days I am senseless,

When my road is endless.

My life is full of emptiness,

My shadow in dark fulness.

To my shadow, I say goodbye,

It just follows me on the fly.

Always there, pretending shy,

Never leaves, never know why.

Every dance my shadow apes,

When I nod, my shadow shakes.

My thoughts it never forsakes,

As though my soul it recreates.

To my shadow, I waved goodbye,

My shadow waved back on the sly.

I couldn’t escape its mocking eye,

As if my shadow were saying ‘Hi’.

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(c) John Herlihy 28 March 2019