Dreams That Only the Shadow and I Know

Dreams That Only The Shadow And I Know He walked with me in innocent youth He but a rascal, a mere shade of truth Yet whether brighter morn or dark of night He knew, my aspirations, oft my plight Never were his elegant moves random We seemed to dance about in tandem Yet as much as I saw I never knew If we but one or if we were but two. That dawn we walked the woods to enjoy He but a shadow, I but a mere boy Yes, between us was a most solemn bond We were of each other so very fond Lately his gate was uneasy and slow Yet still he went wherever I would go That night, I woke seeing him slip away I cried out, come on back please, please stay. Dawn came and the invisible space came It arrived in silence, played no game Too oft it invaded my searching heart Somehow easily tore my soul apart I bowed and begged for a reprieve Because the silence set echoes to deceive Now a man, my shadow friend I so miss When at night I hear eerie silence hiss. He walked with me in innocent youth He but a rascal, a mere shade of truth Yet whether brighter morn or dark of night He knew, my aspirations, oft my plight Never were his elegant moves random We seemed to dance about in tandem Yet as such as I saw, I never knew If we but one or if we were but two. R.J. Lindley, June 17th, 1973 Rhyme, ( Wherein The Light Of Innocence Was Lost ) Old Note: 6/17/1973 What was thus lost cannot be captured again. Life is funny that way. It gives and it takes. Sadly what was most precious it seems to take with a certain kind of morbid glee. New Note: 12-13-2020 What was lost will never ever return Oft enlightenment I desire to spurn Once in youth- shadow was a dear, true friend Its absence I can no longer pretend. Add- Decided to bring this old one out To see the light of day. To walk down memory lane I was then in 1973 into my 19th year on this old blue marble… And I remember that innocence was the shield That fled away far too soon……