Dancing With Ghosts

Yesterday, so far away, yet close enough to feel
Images within my mind, but which ones are real
Scents, I wonder where they're from and why they make me think
From my well of history, I slowly take a drink

I've seen a million things go by, but each was just a glance
I sat below and watched the stars who twinkled as they dance
I heard the cries, the laughs; the prayers, carried on the breeze
And heard the quiet "I Love You's" that were whispered through the trees

I tasted sweet ambrosia, and nectar from the Gods
And tasted the bitterness of words, potent venom of yours
I felt the emptiness embrace as the night stole you away
And the skeletons of existence that rattle through the days
But, when a song triggers a memory, one I thought I'd lost
I close my eyes and drift away, dancing with my ghosts

Reviews

[Kay]

I can definitely relate to this one (if I interpreted it correctly)! There's a specific song I used to play during some tough times in my life. The chorus begins with "Pretty little lady with the swollen eyes, would you show them to me?" which I found surprisingly emotional and comforting. Whenever I hear it now, "I close my eyes and drift away, dancing with my ghosts" as you say in your final line. I enjoyed your choice of descriptions to make this experience seem surreal and haunting. It's on point with portraying a juxtaposition that you placed together wonderfully - "emptiness" and "embrace", "cries" and "laughs", "skeletons" and "existence", "far away" and "close", "images" and "real". Nice!

[Brandon Taylor-Black]

Many thanks for your comments. I often find myself dancing with ghosts, or maybe they're memories, who knows. I'm glad you enjoyed this piece too. Many thanks

[Kay]

It's my pleasure, you're a talented writer. Maybe you'd like this quote from a poem I read recently: "One need not be a chamber to be haunted,/One need not be a house;/The brain has corridors surpassing/Material place."