try to catch it in your hand?

Did it always slip away

 each time you tried and tried again?

Have you hidden from your mirror

        and tried to take a peek,

Without seeing your own image

        in a game of hide and seek?

When you looked at your reflection

        in a river or a brook,

Have you ever tried to catch it

        in a net or with a hook?

When your father takes your picture

        with a camera at the fair,

Have you squeezed your eyes shut tightly,

        to pretend that you’re not there?

When the pictures were developed,

        did you hope your wish came true ,

But found instead your silly face

        was staring back at you?

If you can catch your shadow

        or hide from a looking glass,

Catch your reflection with a fishhook,

        or escape a camera flash,

Then you are something special;

        you’ll be famous if you try.

For if you can catch your shadow

        you are much smarter than I.