By: Joe Salembier
Posted: March 30, 2026
Block Photo Credit: Divided in Shadows, Kyle Congdon, Art Therapist
Walking in the shadows, working on the street,
pretending to be wanted by the men I meet
Walking in the shadows, day room rates are fine
gotta make a living, pay the bills on time
Some say it’s just a business, their pitter patter line
but they’re not in the shadows all the time
Shadows. You can’t see they’re after me
Photo: The Shadow on a Woman, Pablo Picasso
Looking at my outside, no one sees the pain
selling off my body for financial gain
Self respect is nearly gone, no one else to blame
got to feed the children even when it rains
Money’s good but listen, there’s a price to pay
heart and soul already lost, shadows rule my day
Real love is gone for good,
passion, feeling, power,
joy and pleasure too, are dying by the hour
No more afraid of shadows,
now I’m one you see
lonely and forgotten in my misery
Author Joe Salembier’s Thoughts:
My goal was to speak for people who wouldn't do it on their own. Also, I wanted to write about, and for, women to put myself in their shoes, in this case prostitution. Hopefully, someone will read or hear it and decide to abandon the practice. That's my fondest dream.
About the Author:
Originally from Connecticut, Joe Salembier is a University of Pennsylvania graduate who worked for Nestle, and Clairol in New York, as well as advertising agencies in Phoenix and Minneapolis for over 40 years. He also owned and operated Summit Communications in Scottsdale as a way to finance his 15-year alpine mountaineering career. Joe climbed worldwide and summited Denali in 1988. After retirement, Joe wrote and designed “Scales, A Collection of Tuna Haikus,” an art book that was acquired by the Rare Book Room at the Phoenix Public Library. He has written and recorded a collection of spoken-word poems, including “Particles of Light,” which was selected for the first ASU Osher Lifelong Learning Anthology. Joe and his wife, Susan, will celebrate 30 years of marriage this year. Their family includes three kids, nine grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter with another on the way.
WE WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK!
Please send your questions or comments on this article or the blog in general to: asuolliblog@gmail.com
