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
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