My shadow

poem by Robert Louis Stevenson translated and recreated by Ruth Salles

I see my shadow always, always next to me.
I don't know what it's for, or why you follow me like this.
Looks good to me the way she has it.
If I get on my bed, she gets on the back too.

I find a lot of fun in the way it grows.
I would never know how to grow that big if I wanted to.
There are times when it's much bigger than me or you,
then it diminishes so much that you can barely see it.

But never does she learn our way of playing,
and just make a fool of me anytime and anywhere.
What a cowardly shadow, don't let go of my side!
If I were that fearful, I would be ashamed.

One day I got up when the sun was coming up
and I went to see the dew on the glistening flowers.
And the lazy shadow, instead of going too,
stayed in my bed and slept soundly.

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