I have found my shadow. It has taken forever, But I have found it. I left it somewhere back there, Back where I came from, and lost it Before moving here where the trees gloom Over me with arms that swagger in the wind. That tooth-faced smile looks ravishing tonight “Won’t you eat? Won’t you eat? Won’t you dine?” “Of course, of course, all in due time, When I am ready of course, of course, I will throw my mouth open wide and dive” “But first, dear candle, darling bright, Let me say a few words to our distinguished guests: Yes, there is no notice here, So you must be on guard, For any treacherous chandeliers likely to Crash our party.” “Why, there are so many lights. Dazzling, blurred certainly, But they hang like diamonds on vines, And don’t you just want to gobble them right up?” You’ve had too many, Sips to health, and Gulps to wealth. Look at all these shadows. It’s a waltz really, Spinning inward and outward. “No, no, no. This one’s first, Then this one, And you always work inward.” Until you reach the best part, Dessert with a spoon, But perhaps with a fork. “There they are, Tramping it up like wolves, Wouldn't you like to join them?” “Oh, no, I’ve had enough for one night, I must find my carriage, And go back home. “Where I left my shadow.” “Darling, you’ve had much too much.” “Slow it down. I can’t think full-speed right now.” My shadow is sitting, waiting under the eaves With an umbrella and a flashlight, Whistling Conway Twiddy, and watching The rain fumble out the spout, He knows I’ve been stepping out on him, Dancing so close to so many others, Four-sided and full-figured, Not so flat and lonesome, Like a solitary tree that can only see Over the fence and into the field, But nowhere beyond, Nowhere that has any meaning, Because these trees keep on leaning into his light Stepping on his toes, and telling him “The moon is down, the stars are falling, The sun is shaking, the earth is crying.” And he wants to believe, But he can’t. That’s why I tried to lose him. The bugger he is though, he found me out, And now he’s waiting with a flashlight To show me that I am no one without him.