The Shadow or Final Breath by Bonnie Rivas

The Shadow - a Pantoum

The tree in the front yard looks bigger tonight
The locusts chirp louder than ever before
In the darkness I do not fear my plight
As the shadow crosses my door.

The locusts chirp louder than ever before,
The sound is almost fake,
As the shadow crosses my door,
I ask are you here to give or to take.

The sound is almost fake.
The shadow stares with piercing eyes,
I ask are you here to give or to take,
He just shakes his head and sighs.

The shadow stares with piercing eyes,
His hand slowly reaches for mine,
He just shakes his head and sighs,
I reach back but there’s nothing to find.

His hand slowly reaches for mine,
I find I’m changing too much,
I reach back but there’s nothing to find,
Yet he’s chilled my soul with his touch.

I find I’m changing too much.
He says I’ve danced this dance before,
Yet he’s chilled my soul with his touch,
Remember the dance, to remember more.

He says I’ve danced this dance before,
But was afraid of what I would find,
Remember the dance to remember more,
In the halls and corridors of my mind.

But I was afraid of what I would find,
He just shakes his head in disgust,
In the halls and corridors of my mind,
Will I find anything I can trust.

He just shakes his head in disgust,
But I follow him through the door,
Will I find anything I can trust?
He says he has to even the score.

But I follow him through the door,
Seeking life or seeking death,
He says he has to even the score,
As I take my final breath.

Seeking life or seeking death,
The locusts chirp louder than ever before,
As I take my final breath,
The shadow crosses my door.