Shadows

On a sunny morning like this one

every pebble on the this beach has its own shadow
every crow’s antics are cast beneath it on the ground
the ripples of the water eat the shadows, leaving the duck and the fisherman alone

without shadow or reflection, they achieve unity

water will do that

otherwise we are split

image, shadow, reflection - if the water is still

I always thought stillness would make me whole

But it seems I need a ruffle of breeze,
or a tide,
or a sourceless ripple

Composed August 25, 2025