Best Poems Written by Hannu Rauma

The Shadow and the Light

The Shadow and the Light 
Struggling to at last break free 
My shadow slipped from under me 
And stole away into the night 
Seeking shelter from the light. 

It tripped into a forest dark 
Then flittered through a moonlit park 
It scurried under thickets black 
As soot and smoke without once looking back. 

Gazing upon the water still 
Like a cat perched on a windowsill 
It pondered how and wondered why 
No familiar site could he identify 
Through himself he could see the sky 
And he looked until it overwhelmed his eyes 
And the darkness began to blur the lines 
Until he could not longer himself define. 

What had become of himself he thought… 
Where was he now? Where was he not? 

Lost and afraid he called for help 
It was plain he couldn’t save himself 
He was a shadow – nothing else 
All he wanted now was to be restored to health 
And thus fell asleep beside himself 

The sky began to whisper, so 
The birds added to the glow 
the flowers put ears to the ground 
Searching for a familiar sound 
They heard the sound of a distant humming 
And they knew the light was coming 

At that moment the color red 
Opened its eyes and shot out of bed 
It was among the first greet the day 
And help get it on its way 
And noticed the shadow that had lost its way 

“WAKE UP!” said the light to the shadow! 
“You almost missed it” 
The place you’re born each day I visit 
“When his foot touches the ground, 
Make sure you bless it!” 

And when he saw its affect on the night 
The shadow agreed that it would follow the light 
And happily accepting its attachment to me 
It blessed the day – it felt so free

Copyright © Hannu Rauma | Year Posted 2005