NuevaJess's blog: "NuevaJess Poems"

SHADOW ON MY WALL

The date just turned over.

This day is thirteen minutes new.

But, I am plagued by the dark of night

thrown against the dawn to come.

Reading friends' comforting words

had these corners of my mouth

making a mad dash to my ears

in a wise and peaceful grin.

Just then my subconscious whispers

to my peripheral as I glance to my left;

"There is a Chinese dragon on the wall"

It is clearly delineated in its poise to swing to and fro.

Countless times I have seen that view.

Never seeing the forest for the trees.

Or, more to the point,

the potted hanging plant for the dragon.

But how could I?

There were cataracts on my soul

barring me from unclouded vision.

The giant shadow on the wall of my heart

had me stumbling and tumbling

after so many false starts

Letting it shape me like so much origami

But you see? Even my shadow knew I was not

as fragile as a mere piece of paper,

nor did I have the elusive, untouchable quality of its namesake

These and all shadows are now reclaimed as my own,

to be as fun as picking shapes out of clouds

for they only ever held as much power as I gave them.

Me and my shadows will now walk hand in hand

skipping joyfully in the knowledge

that the depth of our power has always been up to us.