holding the hand of a ghost
john sweet
on the proch at linda's house
the sun slipping towards the hills
on the far side of the lake
there's less of her than there was
six months ago
her hair thin
her smile vanished entirely.
she says the medication
helps the pain
sometimes
she says the worst part is knowing
that this will be
her last summer
a small breeze
and she wraps her sweater
tighter around her
holding her hand is like
holding the hand of a ghost
she says nothing
and there's nothing else
to say