Planting My Feet in the Shadows







charcoal sketch by Terence McManus


PLANTING MY FEET IN THE SHADOWS
 

At nine years old
I was either a dreamer
Or superstitious,
Or odd;
Following Randi’s steps,
I planted my feet
In my friend’s invisible footprints;
The shadow of her being.
Could I transport into her world?
Her golden tendrils become mine?
Her dimpled smile, mine?
Her perfect home, mine? 
Minor misstep--
It couldn’t happen, but
Dreaming could.
As I climbed her steps
My hand grasped the iron railing
Where her fingers touched
Marching behind,
Synchronized.
Up to her pink room
Dappled with dancing daisies and rose ribbons,
Everything my room was missing.
 
I watched her mother part Randi’s hair
Into a straight line
Then gather her waves into bouncy pigtails.
Randi twirled them around like propellers
And they laughed.
Was it strange to love my friend so much
To want to be her mirror image?
Would I follow her
Into her battle with cancer?
 
I couldn’t.
 
Jesus offers
More than the world,
A smile,
Radiant from within
Until reaching the mansion he’s prepared.
A perfect home,
Dappled with daisies and ribbons of gold,
Choirs of angels singing tunes of praise and peace.
 
I could follow
His steps
That lead to life.


On September 13, I’m participating in the walk to end children’s brain tumors through the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation. I’m excited to fundraise for such an important cause. No one should have to suffer the way these families suffered.
If you would like to donate to this foundation, you can click on this link.

     /fundraiser/frances-judge/walk-to-end-childrens-brain-tumors--long-island-

In addition, I will be donating 10% of my book sale profits to the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation. If you are interested in purchasing my novel Randi’s Steps, you can click on this link to Amazon Books.

Randi's Steps (Amazon books)

 

 

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