Lament for a Shadow

The Shadow of the Day

What is a shadow but a dark reflection of what something is? Just as all things possess a shadow, so too does the day. And what am I but a shadow of you, dear Celestia my sister? As the moon reflects the light of the sun, so too do I reflect your glory and beauty. But what am I? I am but a shadow. I am the shadow of the day that follows at its heels. While the day may soar to great heights, I am trapped on the ground.

The day is so warm and the night so cold. What are you my sister but the warmth of love and I but the cold of dread? They play in the light of the day and hide in its shadow. They sleep soundly under your light which I reflect. All around, they see the unknown and tremble. But they sleep believing you still watch over them. Do I not provide any comfort to those who dream under the silver disc that hangs above them?

What is the night but a shadow? What is the moon but a mirror? You flaunt your beauty and ignore that which follows you. In me, you only see yourself. Even as the sun shines past the clouds that block it, so too do you shine past all that dare to block you. Have you no humility? I follow close and reflect you, and for what? So that you may claim the glory? Just as light may overtake and vanquish a shadow, so too do you overpower my presence, my sister.

How glorious is the sunset? How magnificent is the sunrise? Just as the sun shines even beyond the horizon, so too do you shine beyond your appointed time. The eye adjusts to the black of night but none can look upon your glory without going blind. The stars blanket the night, filling the sky with a beauty only they can provide. Yet they pale in comparison to the glory of the sun. The light of the stars, no matter how great, is always outshined by that of the sun.

Do you know that each star is another sun? Does the night produce any light of its own? Yet the sun is greedy. It rises in the sky and draws all attention to itself. Even if the moon hangs in the sky, the sun shall make it transparent. Each star is vanquished by your light. How great is your thirst for attention? Have you no humility to speak of? Can any shine when you shine so brightly?

Why do we shout dear sister? Must you announce your presence with such fanfare? When you shout, others revel. When it is I, they tremble. Why do they praise the sun when it burns and sears yet fear the moon which cools and sooths? They are blinded by your light. They fear being in your shadow, hidden from you.

Why is the night so cold? It has been shunned by the day. It grasps what it can of the day’s warmth only to feel that warmth slip away into a chill. Will the day not share its warmth with the night? Yet the day shares not its light. The night must grasp at the drippings and leftovers. There is no warmth in the light that shines at night. The shadow of the day is only granted some light, yet the warmth is withheld. The day says it loves the night, but only gives the scrapes of its love.

Do you know of the phases of the moon? The sun always shines in its full glory. Not so for the moon. When the night grasps for light, if often only receives little. At times the moon is full, beautiful and shining. At times the moon is dark, denied even a hint of light from the sun. Will you not share more light with the shadow you ignore? Must the shadow remain in the cold dark and feel not the warmth of the day?

What are the stars that shoot through the sky? Or the many that fall to the ground? They are the tears of the night. Did you not know of the weeping of your shadow? The tears fall silently as the shadow weeps. Yet you never look back at the shadow that follows at your heels. You never look to see the sorrow of the night as it is shunned and ignored by the day.

Consider the sounds of the night. The crickets and owls that echo through the darkness. They sing a song of sorrow for the night that is so cold and lonely. Many others are silent. The day is full of sounds. From birds singing the praises of the day to others that cheer and cry out. Yet the cries of the night are of sorrow and fear.

Did you know that the shadow fears itself? The darkness that surrounds it if full of terror. Within the shadow are other shadows. There are places at night that are wrought with darkness that cannot be dispelled by the simple light from the moon. Such evil and terror that hides within the shadows of a shadow. There is no comfort for this shadow. When a storm rages during the night, there is no rainbow to calm the hearts of the fearful after the rain subsides. Even the shadow wishes for comfort.

Remember this, my dear sister. No matter how bright the day, the light shall soon fade. Do you know that the moon can blot out the sun? When there is no light, the shadow shall reign. You shall know the terror I face each night and the loneliness I face each day. You shall feel the cold I feel and be shunned by the one you call dear. Just as the night holds dreams, so too does it also hold nightmares. You shall bear witness to the nightmares of mine. Soon shall come the setting of the sun. It is time you became the shadow, to follow at my heels.

But oh sister, you may change this. Grant warmth to the night and share in her solitude. Bear the burden of the terrors she faces and sing a song of joy for her. Shine light upon her that she should not walk in darkness. Humble yourself and lift high the mirror that she may see herself. Please, oh sister, do not leave me in this darkness alone. I fear the shadows that surround me and the silence that deafens me. Let the tears of the falling stars no longer be those of sorrow but those of joy. The shadow is always by your side. So please, be with the shadow.