waking the ghost
By Sharlynn Verner

sleep now, little ghost.
breathe in, quiet - quiet, now...
ring around the roses in your dreams.

in thirty seconds our lives will change forever.

i hate to wake you, and tell you what i know.
if only i could stay here in this one place,
silent...
life could stay just the way it is,
and you could keep your roses

(and your pockets full of wishes.)

i lift my arm, once, twice -
move my heavy hand to lay upon your shoulder.
your eyes flutter open and blink, once, twice –

and i watch the wishes fall –

ashes to ashes

to dust...
to quiet...
to sleep...

as you breathe in my exhaled whispers,
ringing around your roses,
and your pockets full of wishes...

(breathe in, quiet - quiet, now...)

falling down like ashes,

and burning through my coat.