—THAT’S THE THING, IT LINGERS AND CLAWS YOU WHEN YOU’RE DOWN

 

Phantom

 

I fall in love

with your shadow,

the willowy outline of you,

elongated on the

sidewalk or beach, 

shading lawns gray, 

leaving an imprint 

on the bed sheets

as if a phantom sleeps there, 

endlessly dreaming and 

never once waking, 

your shadow who haunts me 

by never loving me back.