The Weight Of My Shadow Poem by cahen thrips

Remember how we often walked
the dog on a secluded beach,
how a low evening sun cast two
long shadows shimmering ahead of each,
we two side-by-side in silhouette.

You laughed at me for taking
so many photos of shadows
but for me they tell our story,
of ambiguity and many tomorrows,
love, aches, joy, but always togetherness.

Dog left us years ago and now too
you've followed the final sway of his tail;
the dying sun last night cast a single
long lonely shadow which speaks well
of nothing - I didn't bother with my camera.

When I turned to retrace my steps
along the sands at first I was surprised to see
just one set of footprints - not two; but then
I felt the heaviness of shadow that's only me
and I remembered.

March 2023