Shadowland

Thomas W Case



Shadow kept me awake
all night.

Meowing at the window.
Sometimes it was more of a
guttural moan.
Scratching the glass.
Running out of the room,
then running back in
like she'd forgotten
something important.

I told her
to shut the hell up.
She looked at me
like I didn't understand
the intricacies
of the feline mind.
Then she threw up
on the floor
and disappeared
into the darkness.

I fell asleep
for eleven minutes.
Maybe twelve.
In the dream,
Shadow was still there,
sitting on the windowsill,
watching something
outside
that I couldn't see.
Was I trapped
in her dream?

The moon looked wrong.
The room tilted.
The clock had stopped
at 3:17
and somehow
kept ticking.
Shadow meowed.
I told her
to shut up.
She scratched
at the window.

I opened my eyes.
She was gone.
Then she was back.
Then gone again.

By morning
I couldn't remember
if I'd slept
or simply spent the night
arguing with a cat
who knew something
I didn't.

Sunlight came through
the blinds.
Shadow curled up
on the bed
and went to sleep.
Of course she did.

I made coffee
and stared out the window.
Everything looked normal.
Which was suspicious.

I sat at the desk
and began
the day's work.
Shadow joined me,
all sprawled out,
gently touching
my right hand
when I moved
the mouse.

  • Author: Thomas W Case (Pseudonym) (Offline Offline)
  • Published: August 30th, 2026 06:37
  • Comment from author about the poem: All of my books are available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-W.-Case/author/B0CL2RKDGX?ref=sr Here's a link to my YouTube channel where I post poetry readings and videos of my attempts at golf: https://www.youtube.com/@ThomasWCase
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 19
  • Users favorite of this poem: Kevin Hulme, Tristan Robert Lange
Comments +

Comments7

  • sorenbarrett

    The perfect set up in this poem Thomas. It seemed one of your wonderful writes on the commonplace yet the last line turns the tables and makes one laugh at themselves for being so cleverly taken in. Loved it

  • soheil khodaparasti

    Haunting, surreal, and quietly beautiful.

  • Doggerel Dave

    Yes, I do believe you may have experienced the at times somewhat challenging companionship of a cat. None of that could possibly be fiction.
    Likewise..... no, I'm not going to compete with you on the ever pressing topic of insomnia or else just disturbed sleep.
    I hope the situation improves sometime soon for you....... and me...

    • Thomas W Case

      I hear you, my friend. Thanks.

    • arqios

      A whole world there in shadowland! 🙏🏻🕊️

      • Thomas W Case

        Thanks, my friend.

        • arqios

          Welcome dear friend 🙏🏻🤩🕊️

        • Syd

          Hi Thomas,
          I really enjoyed this. Funny, surreal and slightly unsettling. I love how Shadow seems to know something you don't, then casually goes to sleep after keeping you awake all night. Typical cat.

          Great write.

          - Syd 🍄

        • Kevin Hulme

          The lines: 'Everything looked Normal'. 'Which was Suspicious', Has an Unnerving Quality about it.
          Enjoyable Read. A fave

        • Tristan Robert Lange

          Thomas, this is hilarious and wonderfully eerie at the same time. Anyone who has lived with a cat knows that exact feeling that they are reacting to something you cannot perceive…and Shadow absolutely owns the night here. Great piece, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦‍⬛

          • Thomas W Case

            Thank you. Much appreciated.



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