Portrait In Silhouette

Late night finds me hurrying along When suddenly I'm halted by a shadows play: Within a window framed, a female with a baby, The two of them alone in their sovereign space Outlined in black and light before the blind Encased in their shadow-puppet world. Stopped in my own tracks, I'm held by fascination And imagination's given them extreme grace No one else on earth now, but the woman for the babe; There's none but the infant beheld by her eyes- And the faint enclosed laughter echoes As she hoists him high and higher Even seen in monotone the two are irresistible I feel my heart open and I'm pulled straight in Perhaps just my shoes are left behind To mark where I once stood I'm not sure where I went or How long I was there But the street disappeared And all the houses with it. Was it for a moment only Or much longer? It's difficult to say- Even now remains An inexplicable happiness.