My Shadow

I have a little shadow that goes

in and out with me.

And what can be the use of him is

more than I can see.

He is very, very like me from the

heels up to the head;

And I see him jump before me,

When I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way

he likes to grow

Not at all like proper children, which is

always very slow;

For he sometimes shoots up taller like an

India-rubber ball,

And he sometimes gets so little that

There's none of him at all.

One morning, very early, before the

sun I was up,

I rose and found the shining dew

on every buttercup;

But my lazy little shadow, like an

arrant sleepyhead.

Had stayed at home behind me and was

Fast asleep in bed.