Shadow Puppets by Spencer LaJoye

We’re prepared to lose power
Every candle collected, tub full of water
Street siren, news anchor
goes silent, the basement
space beneath the staircase
is a playhouse and a stage

By the spotlight of the tallest burning wick,
She writes a plot line with her palms and fingers twisting
I give it a shot
But all that I got

Is a shadow so big, a shadow so wide
It’s a darkness I could fit my whole self inside
She says “just pull away, away from the flame
Now it’s a shape you can make with your hand
Just an owl coming to land
Just a monster you can understand”

I’ve a way with my words
And I use ‘em to run you into the woods
past the curve of our street
Jump the curb, in the weeds
find you curled beneath a dead tree
Say you hurt because of me

By the spotlight of a blazing August sun,
You write a plot line in my veins I can’t outrun
But I give it a shot
Give it all that I got

That shadow is big, that shadow is wide
It’s a darkness I could fit my whole self inside
But when I pull away, away from the flame
it’s a shape I can make with my hand
Just a woman sinking in sand
Just a monster I can understand

Just a broken commandment
A wooden spoon, a shaking hand
Just a kiss in the back of a car
Brand new Bible, steady arm
Just an addict playing the piano
And a kid praying up to the stars
As a mother looks at her shadows
And can’t understand who they are

That shadow is big, that shadow is wide
It’s a darkness that I fit my whole self inside
But if I pull away, away from the flame
They’re just shapes I can make with my hand
Owls coming to land
People sinking in sand
I can understand

• Folk
• folk
• indie
• pop
• singer-songwriter
• Grand Rapids