Dark shadows, cast long

On pavements of dust

Crushed hopes and dreams

Creating monsters of

Ordinary things.

Mine walks faster

Than I ever can

Long limbed, awkward

Darting under doorways

Over second-hand books

With twisted spines

Clothes piled, sold to those

Who count money twice

Carefully peeling dirty notes which

Have seen days happier than most

People.

My shadow gets under the shoes of walkers

Trampled by hawkers

Gawkers

Talkers

Stalkers.

I walk past trees

Bent with age and wisdom

Rustling leaves, bronzed and torn

Silently witnessing the day

As it begins to fall.