I am the shadow - 5-25-23

I am the shadow, following, falling, shape-shifting, in the trees, flickering, on the move, tight against the light, upright and down…go on, turn a corner, turn left at the next doorway, turn out the light, you’ll never lose me. There, at the edge of the bed, a ghost passing in front of the lamp…go ahead, I’ll be waiting, or better yet, on the out-breath, go ahead ahead, count to five, that’s me in the labyrinth, all those doors leading nowhere, all that running, like you’re in water. You think me, me, me, as if you’re it. You’re all persona, as if I didn’t exist. A shadow-ist. You barely give me a second glance. Wake up. There is no glance without me. You act like the world is flat, that you’ll keep going west and fall off the edge. Open your eyes. I don’t even know why I bother. Well, the truth is I’m indentured, although I didn’t sign anything. Just how it feels. I can’t get out of the bond between us. Prometheus had to be chained down, up in the mountain, don’t make me go there, the grisly liver bit…he finally got it. I danced all night in the fire he brought back. Yes! I’m far older than you, so watch it, buddy. Don’t be stepping on me—as if you could! As if you could catch me, or leave me there in the dust. I will never leave you, like it or not. I look forward to the light of the day when you are ready to meet me. And by the way, I’m not out of color in the way you think. I am the absorption, not the absence of light. I am the shadow.