The Chase/Dark Shadow

 Borne alone with my shadow
in the confines of space
empty and
Infinite it seems, endless.

How I long to be free
but that cannot be;
Like a trapped bird
in an iron cage,
I scratch the cold metal
in a quiet rage

shackled, the chain
doubles its weight on my
lonely soul

And
no matter--
on foot or feather--
how fast or far i run
the dark shadow of mine
will follow-

through night and day,
through winter and summer;
In the autumn of may
and in the freezing december,

it follows and follows
my heart
like an obsessed stalker,
a tireless walker
it will catch on and drag me
on my face
Into forlorn darkness