Shadow Girl

A fleeting glimpse, in the

bus window as you’re exiting

In the fading light of a

Monday afternoon

Of a strained face,

Dark rings dragging down

The eyes and the hunched

Shoulders of shadow girl.

And you frown at the image

and turn your face away

from the wind and

make your way home.

 

That face, tentative like

A sparrow, hopping along

With no intended destination,

No intention.

A fleeting glimpse of what

You’re running from-

Yesterday’s you,

The monster in the wardrobe

That keeps you wide eyed

Awake and fearful

For things that go bump.

(Don’t look towards the mirror,

Don’t look towards the mirror.)

 

But sunlight always comes

And always brings colour and substance

To negate the shadow world

Of black and white images

Caught out the corner of

The eye, when your face looks

its most pale and your skin

Is like spider webs cloaking

The bones beneath- grandmas lace

Attempting to cover up dust.