Children Jumping Shadows
by Michael Doyle

I listened to a whisper barely heard
About separating myself from the herd
It wasn't the desire to stand out
As much as it was living in worldly doubt

I look around me, unable to truly see
What difference each can make separately
But I'm sure it's not as much as together
There is a begged question of what makes it better

Twentieth-century gurus play in the shallows
While hungry children are jumping their shadows
A handful of pixels build the hope of the few
Pressing fast forward in a world of worn-out shoes

Tiny drops of dreams that have fallen and felt
Become the oceans from yesterday's glacial melt
This world knows far too much desire and sorrow
As we reach forward into the unknown tomorrows

Of children who have been cast out by life
Whether through hunger or a continent's strife
We all need a little bit of transpired sunlight
As we struggle through the ashes of a darkened night

Twentieth-century gurus play in the shallows
While hungry children are jumping their shadows
A handful of pixels build the hope of the few
Pressing fast forward in a world of worn-out shoes

(c) September 20, 2024   Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved