—After San Cristóbal by Sorin Rechitan

These fat shadows 
suggest depths we do not see. 
On the sidewalk, 

a man follows his shadow 
as it bends over the edge, 

where sidewalk meets wall. 
The slant of sun on the wall 
gives his shadow weight, 

it changes all his angles, 
tilts his hat, his shoulders, turns 

the path of shadow. 
Overhead, a lantern casts 
no light, but it throws 

a shadow down the wall—
the curves of its bracket 

echo the angles, 
the shadows of shoulders, hat. 
All suggest the man 

follows a path that leads him 
somewhere under the wall, 

deeper into shadow.

Publisher’s Note: Sorin Rechital’s black-and-white photograph San Cristóbal was posted to 500px on 27 November 2014.

Bio: Gary S. Rosin