The Little Ghost: Poetry by Me #8

This is a poem that follows a similar storyline to a short story I am working on. It follows Shuya (Shu-Shu) and Rea, an eleven year old girl who can see him. I hope you all enjoy! I'd love to hear what you think :)

There once was a little ghost

and he wanted to be happy

so he floated around the city

looking for a little one to talk to

He floated and floated

until he stumbled upon a girl

That girl saw him

nobody had ever seen him before

and the little ghost twirled in the air

and the little girl watched in awe

as a ghost, a real ghost was in front of her

and they talked

and he told his story

and she told hers

and she decided to tell others of her new friend

but the others laughed

and shunned her away

It’s okay, he said.

But she blubbered for days

and days upon days

and he tried to comfort her

but she pushed him away

because well...

The world thought her crazy

and she couldn’t bear that burden

so she stopped talking to the ghost

and the ghost wailed

and his little ghost heart broke

into a million ghostly pieces

Years later, the girl remembered the ghost

and she cherished the memories

and she tried to find him once more

she called his name

again and again

Shuya

Shuya

Shuya

I miss you

But the ghost did not come

because he had been crushed

he heard her voice

heard it beckoning for him

and it hurt him more

knowing she was trying to consolidate

something that was so far gone

But maybe you should let her in again

a wise ghost said

To let her break me again?

he responded

Get up and try

or you will regret

not making the effort

and you will miss her more

knowing you could have reconciled

something

So Shuya got up,

and he floated back to her

and he allowed himself to be visible

and at first he could not find her

because he didn’t see the little girl

the one he once knew

instead there waiting for him

smiling through tears

was a woman

seventy years old at least

but closer to ninety

skin full of crevices and wrinkles

and she simply said

Oh, Shuya, you came

I have missed you so much

And that was enough to melt Shuya’s ghostly heart

Shuya loved the girl because

she wasn’t frightened

and she cared

and she was special

and so many other reasons

Knowing she was old,

and sensing her regret

he asked her a question

Am I the only one you see?

No

she replied

I see all sorts of spirits

But none as remarkable as you, Shuya.

Shuya smiled a wide grin

and knowing he could do so

he named Rea, the old woman

The Spirit Protector

for she was strong

and she cared so deeply

for those most humans could not see.

Little did Shuya know…

if he had not shown

Rea would have passed away days later

due to an unexpected illness

the doctors would report

but written on the death certificate would have been the words

Died of a broken heart