(Continued from 3/10)

Gilbert used to sit
alone and grieve-
none could understand
or feel his grievances,
nor his friends,
nor his father
(his stepfather),
nor any neighbors,
perhaps, his mother
could realize a bit,
but, she could do nothing.

One day he asked
his mother,
“where people go after death?”
his mother could not
able to give a simple answer,
rather, she said,
“all souls go to a special place
where they like the most.”

From the childhood
he heard a fable of a spiritual ghost
who lived inside the dark forest
and could defy the death
by bringing back those lost souls.

No one knows where he lives
except inside the remote forest,
but, a wicked witch who lives
at the very end of the village
has some idea,
she sells to the one
who fervently requests.

Gilbert, by breaking his piggy bank
went to the wicked witch
to seek advice on how to reach
the spiritual ghost.

Continued…