Ghost Girl by Amy Gerstler

Author:Amy Gerstler [Gerstler, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, American, Women Authors, Poetry, Poems
ISBN: 9781440684135
Google: EHuC7f4oNlEC
Amazon: 0142000647
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2004-04-05T23:00:00+00:00

everything, I awoke full of praise

for you, as I do each morning.

Coughing constantly, I rinsed

my hands and ate some seeded crackers.

I thought about your face and prayed.

WATCH

Yesterday, your tired wife and I

drove to the medical examiner’s

to retrieve your personal effects.

She dropped me off at the front

entrance. The women at work

in that bland flat-roofed building

looked like secretaries at various

high schools you were principal

of over the last thirty years. The

back room was being remodeled,

so ideal placement of fax

machines and the shredder

were under discussion. An older

woman with dyed blonde hair

searched the property closet twice

for your watch. “It’s here on the

computer,” she said, shaking

her head, “but I can’t locate it

on the premises.” She phoned

the exam room to see if they still

had it “down there.” Finally, on her

third trip to the closet, she found it.

I signed for the sealed, formaldehyde

smelling plastic bag, a form printed

on it in black ink. Reason confiscated/

offense. Arresting officer/chain of custody.

Location where obtained. The same form

for every crime, accident, fatality.

When I returned to the car, I found

your wife asleep at the wheel.

Not wanting to disturb her, I stood

and watched her awhile through

the rolled up window. What would

I give this waking minute, my car

my house every book I ever owned, trifles all,

to be able to kiss your brow and rouse

you now as if from a needed sleep?

I tore the bag open with my teeth.

It tasted awful. Inside, your everyday

watch with brown leather band, still ticking.

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