I met my
Shadow
When the sun was at its apex,
Where the sands of desert gave way to rock.

For once, I stood my ground,
Took wounds.

Then, we sat around a pit of sand,
Cracking our teeth on grit,
Sharing stories.

When night came,
I pushed him into the campfire.
“I’m not very good at reconciliation,”
I explained.
He squirmed like a dark butterfly
Pinned by fire.