My Shadow too?

Again from one of my favourite writers - R.L. Stevenson. At the end of a rather breezy wintery day these lines reflect my thoughts - my recollections of the day and the very fact that there is always something new to discover. Today I discovered a part of myself.

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow--
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
And he sometimes goes so little that there's none of him at all.

He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close behind me, he's a coward you can see;
I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!

One morning, very early, before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

A special thanks is due to a couple of friends and a huge bunch of pigeons who made this day very memorable.

And by the way - the picture has nothing to do with this post. The picture is the core of one of the bonfires lit for the celebration of Guy Fawkes day which I think is very good.

:-)
Au revoir