Changing Shadow

Moving more slowly than it once did and not so fluidly it leads or follows me down the sidewalks and paved streets in my well-populated little town. Walks are most pleasurable when the sun allows my companion to go even if it is dim. Not slim and lithe now and though the knees are arthritic my shadow stands arrow-straight thanks to Mama: “Sit up.” “Don’t slouch.” “Hold your shoulders back!” I reflect on the long-gone days when it accompanied me on the shoulders of narrow gravel roads miles from the nearest town, speeding up to accommodate the flurry of young-woman urgings to get home grade papers, cook, help with homework, . . . . I walk now with my aging shadow pondering lessons learned grateful for every blessing intent on pursuing dreams till life’s end. Posted April 28, 2020, and entered in Chantelle Anne Cooke's Shadows poetry contest placed 6th of ten entered in the Strand Number 740 contest on May 1, 2020 May 23, 2020, entered in John Hamilton's Best Free Verse 2020 Poetry Contest Placed 4th