Ghost Town: A Sestina
by Amber Bailey
This town is full of houses that are haunted,
Ghosts left behind, not even in death left with peace,
Despite being buried in their best dress.
Just like in life, they are now truly invisible.
I guess some things never change.
I think I will go to those houses and clean.
Maybe it will ease the pain of my father never getting clean.
His disease forever left our family haunted.
I used to pray that he would change,
For a family dinner that would have peace.
My prayers unanswered; to God, I was invisible,
Even though for church each Sunday I still dress.
My mental wounds, I try to dress,
To, in my own right, become clean.
Maybe my struggles are invisible,
Despite my mind being mad and haunted.
I pray for peace;
But nothing will change.
In a jar in my room, I collect loose change.
Maybe I’ll save enough to buy my wedding dress
Although the thought of marrying never brought me peace:
What if my partner only uses me to clean?
What if, like my father, I make my own house haunted,
The needs of others, in my eyes, invisible?
My needs, in the eyes of others, are always invisible.
Maybe I’m the problem, the one who needs to change.
Every friendship is left haunted.
I still have an old friend’s black dress.
Maybe I will return it to her, clean.
Maybe that will bring us both peace.
To heal, I think first I will need peace.
Something so powerful and yet still invisible.
Maybe it could come as a house that is clean.
Perhaps that is just what I need, a small change.
Perhaps I need to buy a new dress–
The one I will rest in when my ghost leaves this world haunted.
My soul not clean, I know, not even death will bring me peace,
This haunted town gains another to wander, invisible.
Nothing will ever change, sadness so deep I cannot even dress.