LONG SHADOWS

The sun is slinking away and in her place she leaves a temporary gift… this long shadow.

She moves with me and does things I cannot. As I carefully navigate icy sidewalks she hops and skips over the banks of snow. She is a charlatan yet an artist, imitating patterns made in solid form.

She tries to scare me with the ‘shark’ behind my chair. She tries to entice me with the ‘heart’ near my lamp.

Her long eyelashes blink behind a tree. She leads me to paths I might not have seen.

Sometimes she only follows.

She is a wisp, a mirage, a shape shifter. She is mine today.

I want my life to cast a long shadow. I hope that my encouraging words will reach someone and bring them peace. I want my prayer life to give good example to my children, my friends. I see this shadow continuing through to two generations so far. But to have this shadow there must still be light. And it’s the light that helps the long shadow reach those I love.

Shadow girl : spread your long arms out to those I care about and give them a hug.

For now I’ll wait , trusting that the sun will return.