The Shadow and The Light

When we were young, your shadow took the form of a little girl A little sister to an older brother That ruled the world A shadow that endlessly followed you around Who thought her sibling didn’t touch the ground Your shadow never left you alone But she always made sure you felt at home Home became a different word As we got older We were partners in crime that lost a mother But we loved each other through our pain like none other Sometimes you were more than annoyed Sometimes your shadow didn’t let the boys be boys But you always made sure to come back around Enduring tickle torture fights with mom on the ground As we aged and time flew by (Even through the distance) Your shadow stayed by your side Fiercely admiring her brother’s courage Vulnerability and strength He never backed down and went to any length To teach the shadow to face her darkness And bring her back to light As he led the way, she followed And she fought with all her might He taught her to pick herself up and brush off the dust He taught her to take accountability for her choices - this was a must He taught his shadow to stop trailing him behind He taught his shadow to trust her heart and her mind You see, there’s always a reason for the shadow The darkness needs a source You have always been the leader, the pioneer, and the force You have shared your light with countless others Spreading joy just like your mother You’ve spent your life bringing those together With selfless love You have been the tether Between you and your shadow Who will always be by your side Inspired by a brother who never thought to hide So, even if you are on your ninth life I would have followed you through every one Because you shine brighter than the sun In case you take a different form next time around I know that every shadow needs light to be found