Nose peeking from under the sheet
chin resting softly on my pillow
eyes closing reluctantly
but seconds later
opening up once more;
trying to stay awake as long as she can.
so she can be my shadow dog.

Shadow dog slowly wakes up,
She blinks once,
then twice,
before getting up to stretch,
and following me down the stairs.
my shadow dog.

Shadow dog looks up at me
as I eat my banana,
she knows that she always gets the bottom.
Her tiny tail wags slightly in anticipation;
of the sticky-sweet taste she loves,
sitting beneath my chair,
shadow dog.

Shadow dog wines in the cute,
high-pitched way only she can
not willing to let me go to school,
not wanting to leave my shadow,
I don’t want to leave her either,
but I know when I get home she will still be waiting
by the door, waiting to be my shadow dog.

Shadow dog greets me at the door when I arrive home,
and is rejoined with her shadow once more,
her tail beating back and forth, side to side.
she loves to be in my shadow,
she is my shadow dog.

Shadow dog wraps her paws around my neck,
and lets me carry her up stairs to bed,
just like a toddler,
even though deep down,
she knows she really is,
a shadow dog.

Shadow dog knows she will always be welcome in my shadow,
I won’t disappear one day;
like her past shadow did,
she’ll always be my shadow dog,
and I’ll always be her shadow.