she held the fragmented ghost
caught hold of his arm
as he shifted
from man to sparrow
struggling between her thin fingers
and again
she almost dropped him –
a snow globe
encasing a large nosed man
and a castle on a cliff
she shook him around a bit
snow swirling
then gave him a kiss
as she sat him on a shelf
through the plastic coating
on his raw red cheek
“now you are one of my favorite things”
she said among the flower pots
and gift wrapped boxes
then turned and left him there
he followed her out –
an old man on crutches –
spouting wisdom she already knew
“i’m ready to die now”
he said
so she held him in her lap
while he slowly
boiled away