Christmas Ghost

Your ghost chases me
Every cold December you come.

Death you are gentle today.
Not that you could ever be
You haunt my dreams
A dead brother to grieve.

But I woke up to his voice
Reassuring that today, you have spared him
Relieved that in fact, a dream was a dream
In this reality, death was temporary.

The moon turned red last night
And in my dreams I found myself screaming once again
For help, for hope, only to hear it was too late.

Death you are kind tonight.
Though years ago you took the eldest
You have spared my sister.
I heard her voice say,
"Not today."

I will sleep in this comfort
But dream with fear
You still haunt me.

Death you are present.
And in the shadow of grief,
I find that death, you are conquered.

Christmas day, He is born.
And He is my promise.
He will die, only to rise
And,
Death you are no more.

-Noemi E. Garcia Rigsby

To: My late brother Ramon Joel
There is no parting with you
See you later.