Jesus Chrysler and Other Ghosts

I.

On the corner of Hope and Providence, I had a vision:

A white blur,

pale as a spectre and fuzzy like a distant dream.

The tread marks burn through the asphalt and follow me everywhere.

Jesus Chrysler!

II.

The office is as quiet as the whispers of my dreams.

The light went out hours ago.

The shadows silhouette off the computer screen and dance off the walls.

NA NA NA NA BOO BOO,

YOU CAN’T HAVE ME!

The keyboard startles me and crescendos.

CLICK CLICK CLICK

Crack goes my skull, pop goes the weasel.

The screen cackles at me:

I MISS YOU.

III.

The park bench feels cold

and the leaves are losing their color.

So am I.

The bench once kept me warm.

Back then, the spring held me in her arms.

Her kiss gave me a palor,

as radiant as her offspring.

The wind now blows the merry-go-round

and whispers,

IN FALL, ALL THINGS MUST WHITHER.

IV.

Sipping on iced tea, I hear the people sing.

The cafe is hopping with life.

The patrons are as vibrant as the stage lights

and are as predictable as the words on the karaoke machine.

The ice has melted,

making the tea as watery as my handkerchief.

I drown out the singing.

I grow weary of the voices.

None were as beautiful as the song of roses.

The stage is right in front of me,

though it seems a universe too far.

V.

I sit on the creek where we first kissed

We were gonna take the plunge in each other’s arms

and let the stream carry us away.

Now the crickets chirp.

They are laughing at me

GOT CARRIED AWAY NOW,

DIDN’T WE?

I see her beautiful visage reflected in the water,

her axinite eyes stare back at me, reassuring.

Her lips match the pedals floating upstream.

I bend down to kiss her,

I fall in like the fool I am.

She holds me tight as I struggle,

I claw toward the light pouring through the deep dark.

When I reach the surface,

the Man in the Moon cackles,

YOUR LOVE IS TRUE

AND YOUR JACKET STRAIGHT!