Peel off your shadow
from a bathroom wall
See if it is
as flimsy as mine,
like toilet paper, one ply
It's the only way to do it
I'll tell you why
Wash it off with water,
splash all you can
it will linger like rust
on an old tin can-
twenty years and more
Scrub it clean,
with your toothbrush
sideways or up and down
but like the yellow
on your teeth, dear
you're gonna have to frown
Wipe it off
with a towel
and it will shine ever more
like your nose on a Sunday
a polished pinball
But peel off your shadow
with your unclipped nails,
Slowly like a pill bottle label
Spit on it and nudge on it
until you make a tip
and lift
and peel it off
just
like
that
Peel off your shadow
and see if it is
as flimsy as mine
like toilet paper, one ply
Did I mention my shadow was white?
