Poem: My Shadow has Paws and a Tail

my shadow has paws and a tail,
it trots beside me, clicks on the light,
half-dog, half-staircase,
learning the shape of my day.

it sniffs the corners of rooms
I pretend not to notice,
waits patiently while I hesitate,
then tugs forward when the dark steepens.

at night it curls along the banister,
a spine of moonlight and fur,
guarding the drop between
what I am and what I might fall into.

sometimes it runs ahead—
four soft thuds and a ringing line—
teaching me balance is not standing still,
but holding on while moving.

when the sun sets,
it thins, unhooks its paws,
leaves the rail warm in my hand,
and trusts me to climb the rest alone.

Thank-you for reading.

Remember there are many paths back to God.

Follow your own path,

Brenda Marie