Shadows Owed

Midnight hours in the shadows I see
Shapes of those long gone before me.

Stretching out their hands they plead
They bade me follow where they lead.

Until the dawn I hold them all at bay
And silently as they came, they go away.

They follow you, they plead to you
The good deeds that you didn`t do.

If a chance is passed to help someone, it`s true
In the shadows someday they may wait for you.

Changing their shapes in my sight
Good deeds not done are the color of night.

If there was now a way to atone
The shadows might leave me alone.

Some night as the moon rises over the tree
The shadows may get the better of me.

If I`m not here in the morning
Just let this be my warning,

Never pass up a chance to do a good deed
Then there will be no shadows to plead.

My friend, listen and heed
Do not go where the shadows lead.

Do not follow where I have gone
It is to a place where you can`t atone.

© Faye Sizemore
June2002