christmas card from hades

i ran to the prius from her freckled arms
the hungry ghosts calling me urgent
to make their morning coffee

80 minutes later at the tail end of the meeting
when i’m finally able to sit
mary said fire cleanses the spirit completely

my tears burst as if hooked to the sprinkler system
mere mention of spiritual fire
could it be i just released you?
wailing into the fog of souls 
thick over the burning cabin
that june midnight 

but later on digging through records 
my lower back exploded in burning pain
right where an old shaman lady
years ago told me you lived

maybe you’re just saying merry christmas 
maybe you’re here to stay
but it was nice to finally hear from you