In The Shadows In the shadows of streets where I played out my youth, In the darkness of childhood, which darkness is rich, I saw a strange man, an aged fellow With a flute to his lips, who beckoned me follow: "Come see a new day." And he played his flute with a wink in his eye, He bowed his head and walked on by. I turned in my time, and walked and ran And I left him behind where my life began. And in all the places I since have been I never did see the old fellow again. I never saw him, except in the street When the red sun rose along the brown bricks. I never saw him again, except When the fishermen cast out their morning nets, Except in the fields where high grasses grew And one bird heard me singing of things that I knew. Now playing this flute, a sad wink in my eye, I scatter my dreams and walk on by: "Come see a new day."