I Heard Shadows Rousing When You Went

I heard shadows rousing when you went,
Crowds of shadows shouting what I meant,
By the half absurd and sentimental thoughts
That sputtered to utter the verses of my heart.

And in that moment I wish I could have formed the grandest words
Into a bird that flew across the world
And wrapped around you like the blanket sky
That covered you with all the reasons why.

I wish I could have built you a kingdom of romantic thought
So you would not have left it so quickly when we fought.
That would have held your wonder for so long
As it would take to write the greatest song.

But in that furied second of your backward dance
One misstep and I had lost my chance.
One beat unseized and then it passed along
And then the next there was noone holding on.

I wish these shadows could have congealed before,
Into colour and substance and form,
But they have walked back with me all this wearied way
To tell you how much I need you to stay.

Copyright © 2005 Prabhath Avadhanula