-- The Mystery of Shadow --

John Herlihy

We know shadows follow us wherever we go;

They fall from great heights, persistent as snow.

Try fighting your shadow to see it put up a fight;

At times our shadows as illuminating as our light.

Some shadows we end up having to leave behind;

The shadow of a smile creates darkness in the mind.

Moon shadow vanishes with the departure of night;

Noon sunlight overhead chases shadows from sight.

Some shadows such we can never leave them behind;

They follow wherever we go as shadows of the mind.

Time’s shadows are endless, leaving us worse for wear;

The shadow of aging works on us with no hope to spare.

We are strings bound tightly to the two ends of life’s bow;

Always with us, never left behind, the mystery of shadow.

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(c) John Herlihy 28 February 2020