Well penned

Firstly I had to look this word up just to double check, Fear of shadows.
Once I had looked it up and then read your poem again it seemed obvious!!
Only 1 nit, can not should be cannot in the spider stanza.
I like how you portray how hard it could be to suffer from this. You would be limited at what you could do, I like how you end the poem in the final stanza, your character is finding the strength to lose the fear, not only that, to grow to love it.
A torn spider is an awesome analogy,

Great read.

Yeah, I could feel this though I don't really fear shadows but I do suffer from lots of phobias, so yup, can relate.

I always think you write wonderful, MarryAnne, and I'm sorry that I'm just now upset and....don't seem to leave a proper comment. Just know that I loved this...I know I have been making excuses..I will get to this, I promise.

'Listen to my plea,
for if you would
but whisper
that I be yours,
the shame of the
world would soon
neglect us'

What a heartbreaking stanza. Frustration and shame...it's just too much for my heart now. It's been a long time since I read a heartbreaking sentence and that sentence is just....it feels like you were convincing yourself that the world will just leave us all alone, I wish the whole world could live me all alone too. Ughhh.

Sorry for my jumbled comment but I'm in the worst mood at the moment. Still love this.