Ghost Clan by Youssef Alaoui

A dream dislodges from our skeleton

dreary creatures float above us

in vacant skies

As we sleep, our hearts break

for these eternal wanderers

bartering their way from the other side

We run to see the ghost clan

returning to the walls of our village

riding a dust cloud

Our dunes are warded with cut mirrors

to confuse evil spirits

so the sand at night looks like a starry sky

All night we hear someone lifting

out of the well, soaking robes slap

as they jump back in

Don’t look to see who it is

midnight djinn are enchanters

and if they have their way

You will be a dried husk by morning

and they will frolic for weeks

wearing your face and clothes

Youssef Alaoui is a Moroccan Colombian American. His family and heritage are an endless source of inspiration for his varied, dark, spiritual and carnal writings. He has an MFA in Poetics from New College of California. His work has appeared in Exquisite Corpse, Big Bridge, 580 Split, Dusie Press, RIVET Journal, Paris Lit Up, The Opiate, Bioptic Review, Dryland, and nominated for a Pushcart at Full of Crow. His short story collection "Fiercer Monsters" was published by Nomadic Press of Oakland, CA. His poetry collection "Critics of Mystery Marvel" was published by 2Leaf Press of NYC. Based in SLO CA. You can find his work at www.youssefalaoui.info and on social media: twt@iuoala insta@iuoala777.