Dancing Shadows Poem by Paul Holmes

In a hushed, darkened room
There’s a silence all around,
A group of children and parents
Sit quietly, making no sound.
They eagerly wait to see
A performance up on a stage
Which anyone can watch,
There’s no limit to the age.

From fingers impossibly entwined
Shadows of black swans appear -
Is it a trick, or is it by magic?
Kids seem uncertain, but they cheer!
Just then, a big eagle grows
From what seems to be a ball,
And then it swiftly melts away
Into nothing much at all.

Seconds later and, all agree
That the silhouette on the wall
Is of a couple of cute rabbits,
But both are five foot tall!
Next, was it a crooked witch
That seemed to give a wink?
Or was she a lovely princess?
We tried carefully not to blink.

After a while, the show was over
And it ended with applause,
Such simple entertainment
Came through those theatre doors.
The children left feeling happy,
As they walked down the aisle,
And those amazing dancing shadows
Made many parents smile.