Shadow,

takes a day off.



crawls out from behind

and

slips into

his owner's pocket

with spare change and

car keys,

nestled between

khaki-colored lint.

Shadow puts his feet

atop his coffee

table and

skims through this week's

edition of Sport's Illustrated.



Shadow

eats

watermelon seeds,

green potato chips,

brussel sprouts, anchovies,

squished sardines and

asparagus.



Shadow,

sometimes forgets to



make his bed,

goes late to work,

drinks day-old coffee,

and he too,

will forget to lock

his car.



Shadow,

may leave his

phone off the hook,

refrigerate

hide behind

sunglasses,

and play ball

in the house.



Shadow

is not a

black figure, that

Peter Pan lost.

Shadow is

you and me.