it was supposed to be about the plight of modern man , who was cut off from all his roots and traditions , but to jake it suddenly seemed that the man who had written that poem must have seen this house : / will show you something different from either/your shadow in the morning striding behind you/or your shadow at evening rising to meet you ; /i will show you ... `` i 'll show you fear in a handful of dust , '' jake muttered , and put his hand on the doorknob .