Long Enough

You would have thought it foolish to speak to the dead,

but I have lived two decades longer now than you

and all this time I have carried you in my head

so I think I have the right to question what you said,

dear teacher. My religious upbringing’s residue,

you would have thought it foolish. To speak to the dead,

however, is sometimes necessary, especially haunted

by all the things I know you hoped I’d do

with all this time that I have carried you in my head.

In a dream last night I followed where you led

until you asked me in a loud voice what I knew.

(You would have thought it foolish to speak to the dead,

but I was dreaming and could not refuse.) I said

that you were wrong, that I could see your bitter view

(since all this time I have carried you in my head)

for what it was, and you for who you were. Instead

of dreaming your reply I woke as you withdrew.

You would have thought it foolish to speak to the dead

but all this time I have carried you in my head.

Source: Emblem (Barrow Street Press, 2011)