When Ghosts Beckon Us to Join
© 2006 twitter.com/mattwi1s0n, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio
The death was sudden
Tragic and violent
The metal tore against his flesh
Before it threw him.
“I cant! I CAN’T!!!” you yell
When they asked you to see
To identify
The one who had just hugged you
When he walked out the door for work.
*****
Your cell rings
You think it’s him.
You prepare a table for two.
His ghost still lives with you.
His birthday ready with his favorite dish.
The news, the news, the news
You call him to talk it through
But he’s not there
So you stare
At his ghost
With tears floating down.
*****
Years later
His clothes still folded
His things still standing
His ghost still lives.
You’ve made peace
And you talk about your complicated grief
Tell him about this and that
How you miss him
And wish him back.
*****
“I’ve moved on” you say
But you can’t and you won’t.
Decades fly by.
You still wait for him at the door.
A haunted life
Of tears and strife
Living with his ghost
That beckons you to join.
