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“I Do Not Fear the Ghost in Black”

by Juno Snider

I do not fear the ghost in black

Though he brings only a change

That our mortal minds call “misfortune.”

I do not fear the ghost in black

Though he takes and turns every year

As the Giant Wheel turns and turns.

I do not fear the ghost in black

Though I have been taught to

By grieving widows and mothers

By the victims and that paranoid

By the poets and the playwrights

By winter.

He is true and he is certain

One of honor and respect

As indiscriminate fellow, he visits us all

From the greatest king

To the smallest flower and fly.

He visits me in moonlight

Looks at me with hollow eyes

Takes his bony hand in mine

And we dance.

He takes me to the invisible valley

And I dance and admire and roll down hills

And I love.

Life, my mistress

And death, my master

I do adore.

I do not fear the ghost in black

For he brings only tidings of comfort and joy

I receive more comfort from him than any other

He is good.

Are you?