My Shadow Self
Ethan Dickey

"The Theatre" Henry DeHaan
Lurking like a monster
My shadow self resides
Always there but not always seen
Like a puppeteer pulling my strings
My darkest parts
It knows
My hated faces
It shows
My anger
Somewhere deep inside
Strikes like lightning
A flash scorching and bright
My fear
Hovers around my heart
A constant worry
A looming dread
My loneliness
A persistent ache
A reminding whisper
Alone, Alone
My lost self
The one I hide
Covered up by lies and facades
Is the one I want to be
Slowly, I cut the strings
And the shadow loses its hold
Almost free to be real
Almost free to be me
One day the shadow will fade
Always there but just a memory
No longer holding me
By strings made of my darkness
But the shadow re-ties them
Once again I’m dangling
By threads
Woven of my darkest parts
One day I’ll be free