Autumn Shadow

As the days grow shorter
And darkness comes to play
Will you turn toward her
Or will you turn away?
The thing about shadow is
She can be gentle or fierce
A slight whisper that calls you
Or a shrill that can pierce
The ears they hide secrets
Under corn husks, unseen
What lies do you hide
In that smile and between
The rows of plump pumpkins
The flesh and the bone
In autumn she calls you
To wander alone

For alone she can find you
In stillness is truth
The shadow she beckons —
She’s the one of your youth
The one you’ve forgotten
In the distraction and din
She’s come back to haunt you
To unite you again
You can fight, beg, or plead
Or turn toward her at last
This shadow won’t hurt you
She’s come ‘cause you asked
You asked to be whole
To feel good, to be healed
Will you do what it takes
To keep your fate unsealed?
Will you stand in the darkness?
Will you stir up the muck?
To release what’s been hiding?
To free what’s been stuck?
This is her medicine
Should you choose to accept
To embrace all her teachings
Even weep tears unwept
To face her with bravery
Turn toward her with love
This shadow’s no demon
Nor sent from above
In the darkness you see her
What you feared might be true
Except now you’re not frightened —

The shadow is you.