POETRY
Giving Up the Ghost
Free Verse poem
Even with things left unsaid
I can no longer carry you —
the weight of anger, once bone-crushing
has all but subsided —
You are no longer that double-edged sword
who pierced my heart daily
nor the ten-foot giant
who frightened me into a cave
And although I am still alone and lonely
still fighting my own demons
the blame and shame is melting away —
perhaps Spring is finally coming
So dear haunting childhood
it is time for us to depart —
I’ve buried you and placed a marker
and now, I am giving up your ghost
©2020 Lori Carlson. All rights reserved.
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Lori Carlson writes poetry, fiction, personal essays, creative non-fiction, and articles. She focuses on Spirituality, Life Lessons, Self-Awareness, Relationships, Mental Health, and LGBTQ+. She is the Owner/Editor of Promptly Written and Not For Bedtime Stories. You can find her older stories on her Medium Blog, Ravyne’s Nest.