my dead friends

"i have begun,
when i'm weary and can't decide an answer to a bewildering
question
to ask my dead friends for their opinion
and the answer is often immediate and clear.
should i take the job?
move to the city?
should i try to conceive a child in my middle age?
they stand in unison shaking their heads and smiling-
whatever leads to joy, they always answer,
to more life and less worry.
i look into the vase where billy's ashes were-
it's green in there, a green vase,
and i ask billy if i should return the difficult phone call,
and he says, yes.
billy's already gone through the frightening door,
whatever he says i'll do."

poem by: marie howe
from a collection of poetry: "risking everything," edited by roger housden
"tulips in green vase" print by: julie rodriguez jones