The shadows

Shadows drifted over your face in the wind.

I was hanging on to a dream of us,

but it kept escaping my clutches,

and morphing into a nightmare.

I was just staring into nothing -

shadows in the darkness of your mind.

I saw clearly in the night for the first time -

There’s nothing there for us anymore.

You were there but not there -

you looked right through me,

clear through the other side,

and the other side was blank.

There’s no one to understand

that when we gave it, we gave it all,

but now we are sucked

dry as shells empty on the sand.

You drew me gently

into your moonlit world -

a world of dreams -

of light and sweet surrender.

Our days of drifting dreams  -

and barefoot loving  -

freedom in the silky moonlight

passed like raindrops, all too soon

No substance, no depth -

you had me so deep.

Now you're a wail into nothing,

and a drop off the edge.

You will not fight for me

and I am tired of fighting for you.

I bow and turn my back,

leave you to sink, as you choose.

Because I choose life.

I choose substance, and light.

No longer will I drift in your shadows,

like a waif, hoping for a pearl.

And now I see clearly you have no core.

So, with memories to sustain,

I walk with ever-lightening heart away

from what once was, but was never really.

The depth of our connection

was just moving shadows,

drifting, dreaming, distracting - 

insubstantial in the wind.

You are without substance or grace - 

just broken, too lost to piece back together.

I choose life, in peace, and grace.

One day you might find it too.

© Jennifer Phillips (All rights reserved)

© Tammi O'Hair Photography