In Her Own Shadow. Poem by Jill Ferrey

In her own shadow she resides
Afraid of what she would find out there
Should she ever deviate from the safe and known
How many countless moments has she already blown

Because for the crippling fear of what is
And not what should be, she hides
Behind carefully constructed walls of defence
Walls that over the years have become thick and strong

In her own shadow she hides from all around her
For she feels everything to deeply
And knows the thoughts of others around her
Emotion experienced so deeply and profoundly

That to reside in her own shadow and hide
Is the only option she is left with
Otherwise she would surely perish
From the level of contempt felt from people around her

To feel to deeply is to open her soul to self destruction
Is to expose her heart to more pain, to risk shattering
The heart that has just begun to heal, to find solace
In the shadow of who she once was

For you see in her shadows, she is safe
Safe from prying eyes and vindictive comments
So forever shall she remain in her own shadow
For her very sanity and well being depends on it

There is one from whom she hides no longer
And from those who she once shared her everything with
She once again hides, defends and guards against them
Whereas this one soul is linked, intertwined with hers

Showing her the light within her shadow
And letting her know that she is safe
To reside within both his shadow so that she may venture out
Under his close guidance and protection she is now placed

To once again be cherished and protected
To once again feel the care from another
It is in his shadow she now resides until the time comes
For her to cast all shadows aside
And live once again in the full glaring light of life