The Thread of Night
Instructions for Mending a Broken Shadow
First, find the place where the fracture runs.
Shadows split where the heart falls silent.
Look for the invisible seams on the ground,
they shimmer against the light.
Do not touch too quickly.
A shadow is fragile after the fall.
Bring your palms close as if warming
a bird fallen from its nest.
Gather the fragments.
Some will take the shape of memories,
others will resemble old wounds.
Do not confuse them.
Lay them in a circle, like a charm of protection.
Take a needle of silence,
a thread of night,
and begin to stitch the pieces.
Each point is a breath,
each knot a promise to remain.
If the thread breaks — begin again.
The work requires patience,
as all things do that refuse to vanish.
When the shadow holds together once more,
lie down beside it.
Let your breath meet its breath,
until it mirrors your form.
Do not wait for it to be flawless.
The cracks will shine under the moonlight.
This is how you recognize
the shadows that have learned to survive.
About the Creator
Alain SUPPINI
I’m Alain — a French critical care anesthesiologist who writes to keep memory alive. Between past and present, medicine and words, I search for what endures.
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Comments (1)
The last line really seals it. nicely done.