Shadowed corners, drifting feathers of darkness

Embody dark places, and darker things

But fear me not, and I do not fear them

I know these shadows like I know my own face, for they were given life when I arrived

They lurk quietly in different spots, in different forms

A book, a mirror, a deck of cards, and all close to my heart

Like where they stay, where they live, where they are

In a room

A filled room, though just a room

But I call it mine, and so it is

I know these rooms like I know my own thoughts

Their width, their color, where they meet and touch

Where they breathe as they creak

And moan with old age

Its strengths and its weaknesses

The things it's seen and the things it wishes it hadn't

None of which will be forgotten

As long as this house stands true

If experience makes it younger, like I know it won't for me

I know these streets, sweet sound

Of living things and places

Sleeping as they wait for dawn

Safe within your borders, city

These are your children, town

The brick and the grass that grows beneath it

The lake that folds and ripples eerily

As the unhappy drunken man

Makes his last stumble

While all else slumbers peacefully around him, knowing and not knowing

Caring and not caring

Throbbing earth

That beats and pulses with the life that moves above it

Swirling waters

That agitate and slap the sands that it surrounds

As if to punish them for rising higher than their liquid womb

Deeper, yet, where the land that exists has not been born

And the things that move are slow and silent

To human eyes and ears above

Who think that all is dark

And all is secret

Steady breathing

Rising; in and out

With churning thoughts and moving dreams

A sweaty shinning sheen

Awake with salty tears and crying eyes

A shadow cast slowly as you rise

You plant your feet and look around

I smile softly without sound

You see the world in this town, house, room, is fine

I know your secrets

And you know mine

AN-This is one of my alltime favorite poems that I've written, and one that I am without a doubt most proud of. I'm not going to beg for a review, but I would seriously love to know how it felt for you to read it.