Grandma Tells Me a Ghost Story

“Seven years after he died, I saw your dad
standing in the doorway of my bedroom.
He had on a shirt you all gave him:
navy blue with a thin, burgundy stripe. 

His beard was trimmed short
and he wasn’t wearing his glasses –
you don’t need them in heaven.
He smiled and took one step into the room.

I couldn’t speak, although I wanted to.
Grandpa’s back was turned, so he didn’t see him.
I wasn’t dreaming because I hadn’t gone to sleep!

It felt so nice for him to let me know
he was thinking of me, my only son,
           and he was doing all right with The Lord.”