Ghost

by Alexandrea Torres

There’s a ghost 

in my soul.

It’s not tied 

down, it roams

and haunts the 

room I breathe in.

I can feel

it over 

my shoulder

it turns the

corner right 

before I 

do. It’s a

shadow that 

appears in 

sunlight and 

the darkest 

of nights, looming 

behind me 

whispering 

in my ear.

A ghost I 

can’t force into 

the light, one 

that clutches

onto me,

squeezing my lungs,

stealing my breath,

killing me slowly.

There’s a ghost 

in my soul 

in my body 

in my mind 

occupying my heart 

freezing it 

over, until 

it’s ready

to crack, crumbling 

at its feet.

There’s a ghost that 

haunts my soul,

it follows me from 

room to room 

town to town 

miles and miles around.

It cloaks me

in dread and 

tries to live 

within my skin.

I’ve tried so 

many times, 

told it to 

leave me be. 

But it’s getting 

colder and 

all the leaves 

are dying off

the spring animals

have scurried 

away, and

it pleaded 

for a place to stay.