a poem to read to a scared child

it is a hard thing, to run from your own
shadow
you will be running for a long
   time

you will have to run past many beautiful moments
and places
who will want to love
   you

you will have to run through many gentle friends
and lovers
who will want to know
   you

you will have to keep running and
running and running
   and running

until you have made it all the way around
   the World

and when you finally arrive at the very place
you started from
so long ago
there you will find
   your own shadow

patiently waiting
   for you