your ghost and I took a drive today

out to the country to look at

railroad bridges and cemeteries

edges of woods where the trees

lean apart and you can see the river beyond

I told your ghost about my plans

our life together

things we’ll do

it looked at me very soberly and said

Cher, someday you won’t want me anymore

and I said no, it’s all I have left of you

and no one can take this away from me

because it lives in my heart

trees are dry because it hasn’t rained

fields are sickly and prematurely ripe

your ghost turned to me and put

its hand against my cheek it said

someday you won’t need me anymore

by Cher Bibler