Manifestation

what its like to live with someone who is a ghost of his former self.

The shadow moves across the room
Light never touches it as it drifts, aimlessly-unaffected.
Why do you move like that, ghost?
Can you remember what you meant before...
or do you realize what you mean now?
There's always your smell and your rhythm and your presence-
but its just a memory that burns my eyes and throat
like smoke left after a fire-
except I can still see you.
And I feel you--

I know you are there.

The thuds in the middle of the night-
the small shrieks and disembodied moans
no longer frighten me---
With out them -
there would be no sound
and that would be much worse.

The echos of love songs, played long ago
on phonographs in the sunlight--
listened to by lovers in sweet embrace.

Haunting Love leaves me aching and breathless
never really in this world -or the next.

Can you carry me away with you to your world, Love's Spirit?
Will you hold me  and caress me
and speak my name once again?
In your world, I am the shadow moving across the room.

There, I will be The Ghost that reminds you-
of a lover or friend or someone you used to know...
filled your life and your heart.
Once --was everything.
You no longer recognize or remember her name.
And Now-- she is no one.

I do not delude myself that I am remembered
as I remember you--
You left it all here with me,
content to haunt and linger,
Never looking back from beyond.
But ever present in bod, if not in spirit.
Just the shell.

Carry me away, Sweet Oblivion--
release my tortured soul and set me free.
I want to dance in the sunlight
bath in the moonlight-
My lover is gone--
and so is my heart.

Take my chains away
and give me peace. Leave this tethered coil
and pass through to the light.
Waiting for You to manifest
once again, only prolongs this little
daily death.

And I--
can no longer survive
chasing The Shadows.

Author's Note

My prose style is very eclectic but I hope you can find the voice and rhythm.

Reviews

[Chris]

Seems both were ghosts in their own worlds... It makes you wonder if both do share the same thoughts and memories too. Perceptions...we each have them - sometimes the ones of the other do match ...and sometimes they don't.

One note: "I know your there." this you're?

[Robin Thomas]

thank you for reading --- I fixed the wording ;)

[Chris]

You had something to say...and I understood other perceptions of it - as well.

[Robin Thomas]

yes you did-- I changed your to you are but then felt there was something I wanted to add-- thank you so much for your kind review

[Chris]

take care Robin

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Very solid poem... you got me thinking who is the ghost? A person they use to know or is it them trapped in their own mind looking for themselves.
I enjoyed it.

[Robin Thomas]

Thank you--I wonder that myself ;)

[Dean]

Your ghost will manifest--I am sure of it! Mine do, Once your appetite is whetted, you are hooked.

Good to make your acquaintance today. I hope you will look and react to more of me work...and I shall certainly watch for yours.

[Robin Thomas]

Thank you for your kind words, Sir.

[Lydia Shutter]

A heartfelt plea from someone who longs for the love that once was. Ghosts can haunt us terribly. We have to decide when it is time to do away with them. They will hang on as long as we "feed" their memory. No, chasing shadows is no way to live, that's for sure. A good story here, but the rhythm of free verse is not really there. Still, I enjoyed it. Lydi**

[Robin Thomas]

Than you for the review.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i do feel a voice...and movment...needs editing but has good possibilities...

jacob

[Robin Thomas]

Thank you- I just scrubbed it up a bit.