A List Of Shadows

A List Of Shadows

“The shadow of your sorrow 

hath destroy’d the shadow of your face.”

The shadow of a wheel

coming back around on itself.

The shadow turned inside-out,

then back-to-front, then upside-down.

The shadow in league with cupidity,

grown stout and cat-lazy.

The one where you can hear rain falling

and angels mewling and doubting voices.

Shadows comprised of nothing but frost.

The moon’s shadow, walking across the Earth,

Sol’s silent partner in intrigue.

The shadow as dangling black fruit

and whomsoever eats of it forever corrupted.

Shadow-puppets, their dioramas in flames.

The hand-shadow, now a stork,

now a silhouette of a timber wolf’s jaw.

The sun, with its cast of shadows.

Mobs darkening by the hour.

Whole navies driven under a black water.

And finally, the shadow of the Self,

life’s ghost a shade rummaging in the roses.

The other you nobody talks about.

Not worth a mention.

Author: Bruce McRae

On OMPJ 

Photo Credit: Pacific Austin on Unsplash