Gravestones - Balto

I keep a letter in my drawer

Postmark from several years before

A headstone etched there on the page — a name a place a dying day

But god, I’m never sure

I guess three years ago last week

A ghost-girl drifted down to me

And left the outline of a timid face then slipped away without a trace

Through space between the graves

And then I fell down on my knees

I placed a kiss on stony cheeks

I feel that grit between my teeth

Why won’t she stay, love never stayed with me

Something like eighteen months ago

I chased a rumor chased a hope

That at St. Peter’s church the clock strikes twelve and ghost girls tend to

show themselves but this one would not come

And then I fell down on my knees

I placed a kiss on stony cheeks

I feel that grit between my teeth

Why won’t she stay, love never stayed with me

The years get longer counting days

I’ve got some private holidays

But when I burned my words by candle-light I saw her standing there behind

«Go on,» she said, «I'll wait.»

And then I fell down at her feet

I laid a kiss on bloodless cheeks

Escaping steam between my teeth