free verse
The Gathered Ghosts
by michael cahill
You haunt and flaunt the breeze
and float about
you spooky dancers
I'll continue livin' large
I have visions that I see
just me
I see you there--sneaking round the corner
the gal who swore she'd die if I passed her by
I told her that I'd never be a mourner
it wouldn't be upon me if she died
okay, I cried or rather sighed
for there never was a chance
romance does not work that way with me
you see it must be real; no threat can make me feel
and Dad, I never knew you when the knowing could be done
one year, two years, five and twenty,
'till you passed this plain
I never hid or slid behind in sadness--unclaimed son
you had no role, no peace you stole, I gifted you no pain
you hover now what can I say
you're no more now than yesterday
Mom, perhaps your mind is hidden in that silver cloud
you've wings to seek what lies within
perhaps remove your shroud
your burden called me to my duty taken on
some say the good son
but there was no other one
I was there, that's all
I never was the key when you were living
I'm not the key right now to ghostly dreams
One day my spirit will join in
with shadowed masses
those who were the old,
are now the lads and lasses
as it's always been in life,
my path remains my own
when gone
I'll be
the ghost who haunts
alone
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| Writing Prompt |
Write a poem of any length in any style about ghosts. It can be about a ghost or ghosts. It can be by a ghost. It can be a real ghost or a made up ghost. It can be the ghost of St. Patrick's Day or the ghost of the lover you scorned back to seek revenge. Use your imagination. You may have notes, boats, videos, Morgan Freeman reciting, holograms leaping off the page, any and all colors. Go crazy if you aren't there already. You may also simply write an excellent poem. Good luck! |
