Shadows

Arthur F. Kramer

SHADOWS

Shadows walk the world and leave a stain

that eats away the colors of the sun

and darkens the hours that pass beneath it. Run

though life may on swift time, it cannot gain

bright sunlight anywhere-shadows remain

immanent, folded into living hearts-begun

before first breath-expanding with hard-won

sight and ever rise higher to constrain

all into shadow that was before God cleft the night

and set the world to spinning down the sky,

then drew apart to let the sun be bright

a while, and living hearts be lifted high

in little passing moments of delight

till darkness drops upon them and they die.

Arthur F. Kramer