Ghosts: An exchange

Grief: Part 5

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Ghosts is the final part, Part 5, of An exchange on grief. This is the side of the Poetry & Process newsletter where artists explore a topic through an exchange of their art.

This month’s exchange is on the topic of Grief, a series of five pieces written over the past six months, poems from Brian Funke, author of Poetry & Process, and micro essays from Reena Kapoor, author of Arrivals and Departures . If you wish to revisit any of the prior parts, just follow the links below.

I hope you enjoy this collaborative effort on Grief.

Grief: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 |

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Ghosts

Brian Funke

Photo by Artin Bakhan

Haunting in this steel trunk,
ghosts governed
by airtight lips
and a padlock large
enough to withstand
any bolt cutter 
though you swear to nobody
that you will yield 
the key someday,
someday when a solo line
from a vibrant violin
makes music around
your cloudy eyes.

With a great heave,
you place the trunk
in a new corner
for another day.

And as you stand
the ghosts
from years of dark
rise to surround
you in their billow of dust,
a cloud that climbs
through the air
that could never be contained
under lock and key.

With grief locked lips
and a struggle
you try key after key
and free 
a melody’s rise as you lift
the lid in chorus.

Ghosts cover you
and songs surround you. 

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Thank you for reading this exchange. I would love to hear from you in the comments about what this short series has stirred in you! I’ll see you there.

May you find joy among your grief…

Brian

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