Shadow

by Marie Bowers
(USA)

In the shadows I am safe,
but hidden still with no escape.
I can scream and yell and no one hears,
they cannot hear my silent tears.
Each day the depth gets more defined,
there’s always something more to hide.
The darkness looms with each new friend,
dare to trust if betrayal's the end.

In the shadows I am safe,
but hidden still with no escape.
I yearn for peace inside my head,
for restful nights against my bed.
In sleep our minds are free to find,
subconscious thoughts between the lines.
The shadows break for friendship’s light,
but to trust a stranger brings me fright.

In the shadows I am safe,
but hidden still with no escape.
Truth is knowledge we must protect,
suspicious thoughts we must deflect.
What’s in our hearts we cannot show,
the masks we wear can take their toll.
They break us down and bleed us dry,
force us to mislead and lie.

In the shadows I am safe,
but hidden still with no escape.