The Ghost

The Ghost
from Thirteen Black Roses: Gothic Romantic Poetry by Christopher Courtley

As I walk the sodden banks of this river of human souls
That hurry onward to their common destiny
I observe them as they say their lines and play their little roles
And dance to the tune of a tragic symphony.

I haunt your world like a ghost mourning the life it lost
A shadow watching from the corners of your envied existence
For I cannot cross the river you have crossed
And so there lies between us an infinite distance.

But sometimes in the ocean depths of your eyes
I can see the shimmer of a shining yesterday
Like something you just couldn't exorcise
That left its silver lining amid the grey.

As through this carnival of souls I move unhurried
The baggage of my former life left far behind
Gone but not forgotten, though deeply buried
A priceless treasure none will ever find.

In the masked and painted faces of the figures passing by
I read a thousand books that say the same damned thing
A thousand different ways, and with a lonely sigh
I seek the solace solitude will bring.

So here I stand alone, and here alone I stay
I cannot enter your world, nor will you enter mine
My one remaining hope is that one day
They will once again collide and recombine.

And sometimes in the ocean depths of your eyes
I can see the shimmer of a shining yesterday
Like something you just couldn't exorcise
That left its silver lining amid the grey.

My very talented friend Chris wrote this poem. It is haunting me this evening. It has touched my soul. I am broken today, open, weeping. My father, I discover, has stage 4 lung cancer. He has been given 3-5 years to live. Radiation and chemotherapy.

I am at work when I find out. It is lunch time. I put down the phone. It does not hit me right away. 10 minutes later I am overwhelmed. I am open. I understand. He won't live to be an old man like my grandfather and his grandfather.

He smoked two packs a day. None of us are surprised. Still, it hits me. He is only 68 this year. I hope he gets the 5 years. I want him to know all about my life. I want to tell him all the things I never told him. I want us to be on the same side of the river.

The thing I know is that I weep for knowing the ending.

You can read more of Chris's lovely poetry by downloading his book for free at Smashwords.