The Broken Shadow

I walked upright
until I approached
the walls
of the sleeping houses,
my shadow upright
next to me.
All of a sudden, it broke
on one of the walls.

And it remained broken,
even
when I had retraced my steps
from the walls.
Frightened and careful
I looked around.
Yet, my shadow remained broken
though the path did run straight now.

Vienna, 28 April 2000