A Rather Stumpy Shadow

her footsteps light across the dew
he trampled on without a clue
weeds in his hair
and dirt in his lair
mud in his toes
fur in his nose
face squashed flat
a wee bit fat
a bad first impression
agreeable expression
love in his eyes
the wind in his sighs.

her passage a dream
silk dress a gleam
shimmers of laughter
followed her after
her sweet reverie
perched high in a tree
he watched silently
this slip of a girl
swift wings unfurl
and swing on the air
lacking sorrow or care.

she never saw her silent shadow
follow her across a meadow
but merely let him trail behind
to cold, hard earth
eternally confined