Ghost, you call me. Not the ghost, but
Ghost, making that my proper name, not (of course)
my Christian name, but the older kind: the one
that means something and tells something about you
that remains true. There’s nothing new
about me being a ghost, only that I’m called
by that name now, and I’m finally comfortable with it.
Back when I was just a guy, long before I leaped off
that bridge to get here, I used to daydream about flying
and walking through walls. I used to wish for the power
to blow through a window so everyone knows you’re there
and you don’t even have to show up.
I never had impact, and didn’t want risk,
so my fantasy became impact without risk: that would be the life, I thought.
A good joke: I’ve got the life I wanted, now that I don’t have a life.
I used to cringe when they told scary stories at camp.
I remember that later I laughed at horror films, pretending bravery.
Once you’re here, you find it’s nothing like those things. It’s all so – routine.
You show up at regular times, whistle a little in a dark hallway,
provide a moment of clarity to someone who’s used to being safe and warm.
You become a lesson no one believes in until it’s learned.
But it’s not all bad.
It’s a beautiful world when you can’t really feel it.
It takes your breath away sometimes to see the way it moves.
I spend years just standing in front of the strangest things:
not sunsets, not rainbows, but garbage trucks and fires
and drive-by victims. It’s all so beautiful, the way
disposal has become an art form. (It was my art, after all.)
So, Ghost is what you call me, and I’ll take it, the way
I always took it: with a bowed head. Before, I would always
come when called because I had no place to be
other than the place I was called to. Nothing’s really changed:
I blow through, bother you, maybe I’ll be remembered in your children’s stories.
Maybe we’ll see each other one night on the landing, where
you might call me Ghost,
or you might call me imaginary.
No matter.
I’ve always answered to either one.
Dark Matter 
March 18th, 2005 at 4:32 pm
You are on.
Yes. til Sunday or Monday. Haven’t decided. Need to see my Gram and how she’s doing first.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:32 pm
You are on.
Yes. til Sunday or Monday. Haven’t decided. Need to see my Gram and how she’s doing first.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:32 pm
You are on.
Yes. til Sunday or Monday. Haven’t decided. Need to see my Gram and how she’s doing first.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:32 pm
You are on.
Yes. til Sunday or Monday. Haven’t decided. Need to see my Gram and how she’s doing first.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:32 pm
You are on.
Yes. til Sunday or Monday. Haven’t decided. Need to see my Gram and how she’s doing first.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:32 pm
You are on.
Yes. til Sunday or Monday. Haven’t decided. Need to see my Gram and how she’s doing first.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:22 pm
You’re on. I’ll do it if you will.
I had no idea you were back in kzoo, by the way.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:22 pm
You’re on. I’ll do it if you will.
I had no idea you were back in kzoo, by the way.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:22 pm
You’re on. I’ll do it if you will.
I had no idea you were back in kzoo, by the way.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:22 pm
You’re on. I’ll do it if you will.
I had no idea you were back in kzoo, by the way.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:22 pm
You’re on. I’ll do it if you will.
I had no idea you were back in kzoo, by the way.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:22 pm
You’re on. I’ll do it if you will.
I had no idea you were back in kzoo, by the way.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:17 pm
Oh well look at that.
I just remember getting to the hotel late last night and skimming your poem. I woke up this morning and wanted to give it a double-eyed read.
Interesting thoughts on the writing in lj versus word…
I hadn’t noticed but the things i write into lj are much shorter. more concise. where the things I write in word become longer and have more of a rambling exploration to them.
I haven’t written a poem longhand in forever. I’m like you where i like to erase and cut and paste alot so computers are good for me.
maybe you ought to make that an assignment? If you normally write by computer write by longhand and vice versa…See if people come up with something different. I think i’m gonna try it tonight when i go see my favorite mistake (read ex with a wonderful fiance) play with his band at a local kazoo bar.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:17 pm
Oh well look at that.
I just remember getting to the hotel late last night and skimming your poem. I woke up this morning and wanted to give it a double-eyed read.
Interesting thoughts on the writing in lj versus word…
I hadn’t noticed but the things i write into lj are much shorter. more concise. where the things I write in word become longer and have more of a rambling exploration to them.
I haven’t written a poem longhand in forever. I’m like you where i like to erase and cut and paste alot so computers are good for me.
maybe you ought to make that an assignment? If you normally write by computer write by longhand and vice versa…See if people come up with something different. I think i’m gonna try it tonight when i go see my favorite mistake (read ex with a wonderful fiance) play with his band at a local kazoo bar.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:17 pm
Oh well look at that.
I just remember getting to the hotel late last night and skimming your poem. I woke up this morning and wanted to give it a double-eyed read.
Interesting thoughts on the writing in lj versus word…
I hadn’t noticed but the things i write into lj are much shorter. more concise. where the things I write in word become longer and have more of a rambling exploration to them.
I haven’t written a poem longhand in forever. I’m like you where i like to erase and cut and paste alot so computers are good for me.
maybe you ought to make that an assignment? If you normally write by computer write by longhand and vice versa…See if people come up with something different. I think i’m gonna try it tonight when i go see my favorite mistake (read ex with a wonderful fiance) play with his band at a local kazoo bar.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:17 pm
Oh well look at that.
I just remember getting to the hotel late last night and skimming your poem. I woke up this morning and wanted to give it a double-eyed read.
Interesting thoughts on the writing in lj versus word…
I hadn’t noticed but the things i write into lj are much shorter. more concise. where the things I write in word become longer and have more of a rambling exploration to them.
I haven’t written a poem longhand in forever. I’m like you where i like to erase and cut and paste alot so computers are good for me.
maybe you ought to make that an assignment? If you normally write by computer write by longhand and vice versa…See if people come up with something different. I think i’m gonna try it tonight when i go see my favorite mistake (read ex with a wonderful fiance) play with his band at a local kazoo bar.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:17 pm
Oh well look at that.
I just remember getting to the hotel late last night and skimming your poem. I woke up this morning and wanted to give it a double-eyed read.
Interesting thoughts on the writing in lj versus word…
I hadn’t noticed but the things i write into lj are much shorter. more concise. where the things I write in word become longer and have more of a rambling exploration to them.
I haven’t written a poem longhand in forever. I’m like you where i like to erase and cut and paste alot so computers are good for me.
maybe you ought to make that an assignment? If you normally write by computer write by longhand and vice versa…See if people come up with something different. I think i’m gonna try it tonight when i go see my favorite mistake (read ex with a wonderful fiance) play with his band at a local kazoo bar.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:17 pm
Oh well look at that.
I just remember getting to the hotel late last night and skimming your poem. I woke up this morning and wanted to give it a double-eyed read.
Interesting thoughts on the writing in lj versus word…
I hadn’t noticed but the things i write into lj are much shorter. more concise. where the things I write in word become longer and have more of a rambling exploration to them.
I haven’t written a poem longhand in forever. I’m like you where i like to erase and cut and paste alot so computers are good for me.
maybe you ought to make that an assignment? If you normally write by computer write by longhand and vice versa…See if people come up with something different. I think i’m gonna try it tonight when i go see my favorite mistake (read ex with a wonderful fiance) play with his band at a local kazoo bar.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:05 pm
Thanks, D.
Check the following post for a “voice” discussion.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:05 pm
Thanks, D.
Check the following post for a “voice” discussion.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:05 pm
Thanks, D.
Check the following post for a “voice” discussion.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:05 pm
Thanks, D.
Check the following post for a “voice” discussion.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:05 pm
Thanks, D.
Check the following post for a “voice” discussion.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:05 pm
Thanks, D.
Check the following post for a “voice” discussion.
March 18th, 2005 at 3:58 pm
This is really fascinating. Different voice than I’m used to hearing from you.
This part is my favorite though. I love how you describe what a ghost might find beautiful.
This is heartbreaking. Thank you T.
March 18th, 2005 at 3:58 pm
This is really fascinating. Different voice than I’m used to hearing from you.
This part is my favorite though. I love how you describe what a ghost might find beautiful.
This is heartbreaking. Thank you T.
March 18th, 2005 at 3:58 pm
This is really fascinating. Different voice than I’m used to hearing from you.
This part is my favorite though. I love how you describe what a ghost might find beautiful.
This is heartbreaking. Thank you T.
March 18th, 2005 at 3:58 pm
This is really fascinating. Different voice than I’m used to hearing from you.
This part is my favorite though. I love how you describe what a ghost might find beautiful.
This is heartbreaking. Thank you T.
March 18th, 2005 at 3:58 pm
This is really fascinating. Different voice than I’m used to hearing from you.
This part is my favorite though. I love how you describe what a ghost might find beautiful.
This is heartbreaking. Thank you T.
March 18th, 2005 at 3:58 pm
This is really fascinating. Different voice than I’m used to hearing from you.
This part is my favorite though. I love how you describe what a ghost might find beautiful.
This is heartbreaking. Thank you T.
March 18th, 2005 at 3:49 pm
Yeah. That is the line that whole piece turns on, for me.
March 18th, 2005 at 3:49 pm
Yeah. That is the line that whole piece turns on, for me.
March 18th, 2005 at 3:49 pm
Yeah. That is the line that whole piece turns on, for me.
March 18th, 2005 at 3:49 pm
Yeah. That is the line that whole piece turns on, for me.
March 18th, 2005 at 3:49 pm
Yeah. That is the line that whole piece turns on, for me.
March 18th, 2005 at 3:49 pm
Yeah. That is the line that whole piece turns on, for me.
March 18th, 2005 at 2:00 pm
It’s a beautiful world when you can’t really feel it.
Damn.
March 18th, 2005 at 2:00 pm
It’s a beautiful world when you can’t really feel it.
Damn.
March 18th, 2005 at 2:00 pm
It’s a beautiful world when you can’t really feel it.
Damn.
March 18th, 2005 at 2:00 pm
It’s a beautiful world when you can’t really feel it.
Damn.
March 18th, 2005 at 2:00 pm
It’s a beautiful world when you can’t really feel it.
Damn.
March 18th, 2005 at 2:00 pm
It’s a beautiful world when you can’t really feel it.
Damn.