On Samhain night, as darkness falls
I take out the small brass key
To unlock the box which holds my ghosts.
By the altar, box in my lap
I gently lift the lid
Parting the dark veil between the worlds.
Fingers tremble, then softly touch
Remembrances within
Small tokens of those I've loved and lost
The small gold ring my Nana wore
Grandpa's watch, worn and scratched
A print of my daughter's little hand
Granddad's medal, won in the war
A lock of my cousin's hair
The pearls my uncle had bought my aunt
Tags from my pets, both large and
small
Some pictures and notes from friends
My fingers caress each one in turn
Tears fill my eyes, softly I smile
They've left and yet they remain
The love they shared my legacy
They are not gone, the live in me
They forged the woman I am
Then tenderly I refill the box
From my shirt I remove a pin
My father's silver frog
And add it to the ghosts in my box
On Samhain night, beneath the moon
I turn the small brass key
My ghosts to love for another year.
