ghost
I saw your ghost
Standing on the corner leaning up against the brick
Cigarette perched on edge of your lip
Leg bent against the wall
Playing with the lighter
You glanced up at me and sort of smiled
I saw your ghost
Wookie rolling down the middle of fifth avenue
Three a.m. and the streetlights stretching your shadow
Elongated spirals sliced by the painted white lines
Until you landed on your feet
Laughing into the cool night breeze
I saw your ghost
Dancing to Patti Smith on the boombox
By the picnic table in the park
Eyes closed to the bright sunshine
Soft golden curls playing over your face
Singing in a whisper only I could hear
I saw your ghost
Head on the pillow next to mine
Watching me while I watched you
Fading from a dream
As my eyes tried to focus
On the empty space beside me
3 thoughts on "ghost"
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beautiful. don’t know if my comment can do justice, but isn’t it strange in this day and age when you don’t meet a ghost?
beautiful and poignant
Woah, I love Manny’s question and!
I love reading about ghosts!!! Well, this kind of poem.
Ok, ghost stories/movies can scare me, but ghost poems seem to be different! — makes me further appreciate the lyrics in that “Fun.” song, “I am not the ghost you want of me” (“Carry On”).
This is a beautiful piece. The refrain of “I saw your ghost” is powerful. As if the speaker keeps conjuring that ghost.
I love the Patti Smith stanza perhaps the most.
The imagery throughout pulls us in and holds us. Thank you.