Twin Shadows Poem by john tiong chunghoo

the shadow follows my body
the body follows me
the tangible and intangible
that make up this world

i have two shadows
my body with its dark companion
who is on a constant run on the floor
when light is bright like a candle
the shadow darts around the body
in a joyous disposition
the body too darts around me in a happy mood
when well fed and happy
a light burns bright to feed all the cells
the light burns out the shadow when it burns out
the body burns itself out to leave me without any more shadow
to pamper, to love, to have fun with
i am left all alone out of the universe
a shadow holding onto the creator for a life
praying with conviction that i am not a shadow -
like what the sage has said - chasing a shadow