Of Shadows Poem by Susan Lacovara

There are those that fell, upon the fruit
Placed with purpose, so that I might sketch
In the confines of a classroom,
Where I daydreamed of Monet and Picasso...
I learned the craft of creating shadows
To bring depth, and life, to that which stood still
Charcoal swipes of the hand

And nightfall offers the veil of shadows
Like dancers before the sultan' s stare
Hidden in plain sight, protected by the dark
Free to set inhibition to the velvet onyx air

I called her 'Shadow', as a child
The one who drew my memories back
I saw, in her, much of my own delights
As they seemingly dashed away with unnoticed aging
By noon, the shadow small, and strewn
Beneath our travelling steps...
It grew like beachgrass, long and leaning
As our afternoons raced towards the finish line
She stretched her wings from well beyond our shadows, holding hands,
And now, casts one, alone, but brave

True, I've witnessed many a shadowed smile
The lovers who longed to lure me to promised escape
The shy and shaggy homeless man, who asked for little,
But praise for his harmonica tune...
A passing stranger, on the street,
Who seemed to look right through me

They fall about me, everywhere
Some vague, but there, nonetheless...
Others call me to their comfort
When I alone, seek them out...
They have become friends, over the years
I fear them not...
For they harbor safe, what secrets I tell myself
There, in the shadows