John Anderson Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

“Oh, Peter, I knew you’d come back! I saved your shadow for you. Oh, I do hope it isn’t rumpled. You know, you look exactly the way I thought you would. A litter taller perhaps. You can't stick it on with soap, Peter! It needs sewing. That's the proper way to do it. After all, one can’t leave his shadow lying about and not miss it sooner or later, don’t you agree?” - Quote from Peter Pan,  a timeless Walt Disney animated classic.

 

Listen to poem:

Confronting Shadows

I met my shadow, it was right behind me.
It stalked me, in sharp-edged silhouette
It bore my shape, but evoked a darker hue,
Mirroring truths I’d buried and denied.

In rooms beneath our conscious rooms,
The shadows linger, nap in silence and uninvited.
They arise, get glued to our backs, as trailing capes
Of truths hidden behind eyes looking forward.

Our shadow walks with us, a companion up close —
a slave, a twin, a buddy deaf and mute.
When summoned it reveals what we hide from sight,
It knows the dark things left unspoken inside.

It is a mirror echoing only in black,
It reflects only what light dares not shame.
Revealing not evil things, but truths we suppress.
And refuse to see as what limits and misshapes us.

Shadows are born as presences, not absences.
They bloom when something interrupts the light.
Filtering out the colors of deluded truth.
To clearly show, what really burns inside.

They highlight the parts we choose to exile,
The half-self behind the mask of feeling fine.
Darkness outlines what light dares not reveal.
We mistake their quietude for something healed.

When we avoid our shadows; we misread others,
Seeing their flaws, as those we fear ourselves.
For our shadow is not a ghoulish monster,
But a map, a key to what we can become.

Our longings for relief deepens as day retreats.
As shadows stretch longer towards dusk.
We beg for night to take them back,
To detach them, send them packing to their rooms.

To turn and face a shadow is to walk within.
Confronting shadows with self-awareness,
Making dreams and doubts conscious,
Shedding the darkness with enlightenment.

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Edward Ibeh July 19, 2025 at 5:01 PM John, heartiest congratulations on your podium win in my contest with this wonderfully composed poem with a great message. I enjoyed the audio/song as well. John Anderson July 19, 2025 at 5:55 PM Ok thanks very much for the placement which I am grateful to get. Cheers!

Christine Watts July 19, 2025 at 3:29 PM Hi John Wow what a terrific poem. So engaging and I echo your sentiments, our shadow is always there and we must not ignore it Your last stanza sums it up beautifully. Congratulations on your winning place Cheers Christine John Anderson July 19, 2025 at 3:36 PM Thanks very much => glad you liked it. Cheers and Best Wishes John Anderson July 19, 2025 at 3:36 PM Thanks very much => glad you liked it. Cheers and Best Wishes John Anderson July 19, 2025 at 3:35 PM Thanks very much => glad you liked it. Cheers and Best Wishes