The Shadow of Me

It was a long time ago, in another age
Where the shifting of the wind
Knew where I began
A place so far away, 
Somewhere distant, in childhood country
Before the fog had set in,
Before time lost all trace of me

Where have they gone?
Those merry dancers with whom I played?
When we were queens of the carnival, kings of the parade?
Before being dethroned to mid-life corners
Hearing the music, without playing the drums
They tell me to take this age with grace
Yet everywhere I turn, is young

I'm still the same, I have not changed
I lived a time where love was wild and thoughts were too
With high regard, when eyes were glued
Now inside I'm torn in two...the old and the new
Trapped between this nowhere place
Myself and someone else
Until each barrier becomes a bridge...
Have I been shaped too square by passing years, to fit in circle's place?

My memory recalls those beautiful tomorrows
Now long buried in yesterday's ground
There are other ways to measure time
Besides growing older and graying hair
Recorded music fills the room
Left playing from an earlier time
When October skies showed fading traces
Of empty days and sad old faces
The "others" of whom I had no fear

Now those shadowed remnants from my past
Are stalking at my heels
Will somebody care to ask?   Will anyone need my mind?
Is there something they want to tell me?
Will they patronize, or just be kind?

Care enough, make me useful, give me value, call me beautiful?....
Not yet the age I'll someday be
Still, I feel the sting of losing me
How I ache for all those love songs
How I ache for someone needing, someone pleading...
For advice....for my worth, for an answer, will they want me?
How it haunts me.....Will they see me?
Touching me....reminding me of who I am................not just who I was...





__________________________________

Copyright © | Year Posted 2010



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Date: 7/18/2016 6:35:00 AM
Great write! I don't feel old, but there sure are more and more folks with a greater claim to youth...
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Date: 7/18/2016 1:47:00 AM
Carrie, good write here, and to me that last verse is particularly superb.
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Date: 7/17/2016 9:32:00 AM
beautifull quilled with such pathos, carrie... sweet congrats with huggs
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Date: 7/17/2016 7:50:00 AM
Nicely written - finding piece with age. Congrats on your 3rd place win in the Your Best contest! Jesse
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Date: 7/17/2016 12:16:00 AM
Wow! What a sad lament for worth with age. Congratulations Carrie, so very well done...
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Date: 7/16/2016 8:36:00 PM
Carrie, every line was perfect. Congratulations on your beautiful and deep win. Skat
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Date: 7/16/2016 7:29:00 PM
Loved this write. Made me smile. Favorite line: "Trapped between this nowhere place." You should have read, Alvin Toffler's Future Shock -- it might have eased the transition. ;-)
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Date: 7/16/2016 7:12:00 PM
many congrats on your win Carrie:-) hugs Jan xx
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Date: 6/30/2016 8:12:00 PM
What a wonderful write Carrie, reminds me of my who is that man in the mirror poem, only yours is exquisite. You have a special talent!
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Date: 2/9/2016 10:02:00 AM
Very beautiful in so many ways. Congrats on your well deserved 1st place win.
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Date: 2/9/2016 5:21:00 AM
Hi Carrie. Congrats on your well, deserved #1 placement in the contest!!! ;-)
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Date: 2/8/2016 11:42:00 PM
BRILLIANT BEYOND ANYTHING I CAN EXPRESS. To my fav's, Carrie. You have captured and expressed exactly the voyage of life and all the feelings and emotions of transgressing from youth to growing old. SENSATIONAL!!! You...dear Carrie are a great poet.
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Date: 2/8/2016 9:59:00 PM
Congrats on your outstanding win. Love LINDA
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Date: 2/8/2016 5:53:00 PM
Carrie, congrats on your top placement!! *smiles* -luloo
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Date: 2/8/2016 4:36:00 PM
Wow, Carrie...you have beautifully written everything I am feeling, and I can empathize so well with these emotions. Very powerful and sad. Congratulations on you well-deserved top of the podium win. 7 + Fav. Hugs, Sandra
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Date: 7/6/2015 8:24:00 PM
Carrie, Congratulations on your win, SKAT love
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Date: 7/6/2015 12:07:00 AM
Beautiful write congrats !
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Date: 7/5/2015 10:40:00 PM
Beauty of ur pen mesmerises Carrie! Amazing one n congrats on ur win!
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Date: 7/5/2015 9:16:00 PM
Carrie, Congrats on your win. LINDA
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Date: 7/5/2015 9:10:00 AM
Thank You for entering my contest.
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Date: 8/22/2012 12:26:00 PM
Oh, this is marvelous! my fav. line- Still, I feel the sting of losing me- I know that feeling intimately. Congrats on your well deserved win! :) Tanya
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Date: 8/21/2012 7:55:00 PM
just beautiful. It reminds me of my Mom, brings tears to my eyes. I love the method of your write. Lovely. Lee
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Date: 8/21/2012 7:10:00 AM
Congratulations on your well deserved win Carrie. Love, Carol
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Date: 8/19/2012 2:03:00 AM
Carrie congrats on your win, a good tale of age coming up fast...David
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Date: 8/18/2012 11:37:00 AM
This expresses it perfectly. We are the same but different because of how we are preceived and because of our health and bodies slowing us down. We know we are older and wiser... Others just stop seeing us because we are older.
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123
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