I saw a ghost today.
A shadow in the shrubbery
a lurker behind the shed.
A floater in the corner of my eye
or am I growing a cataract
like everyone I know
mistaking angels for ghosts
seeing something where there’s nothing.
My father said he had a guardian angel
and his name was Joseph.
Father talked to Joseph.
Such intimacy, like the whisper of a lover.
Maybe I have one too.
Call me a cynic—I looked it up.
But why wasn’t Joseph watching over him
when he lost two fingers in an auger.
Or when he rammed a nail up his foot—
a rambunctious boy—
and nearly died of blood poisoning.
I thought I saw a ghost today.
An anomaly in the fog
A lurker in the lilacs
A shadow in the shrubbery
a lurker behind the shed.
A floater in the corner of my eye
or am I growing a cataract
like everyone I know
mistaking angels for ghosts
seeing something where there’s nothing.
and his name was Joseph.
Father talked to Joseph.
Such intimacy, like the whisper of a lover.
Maybe I have one too.
But why wasn’t Joseph watching over him
when he lost two fingers in an auger.
Or when he rammed a nail up his foot—
a rambunctious boy—
and nearly died of blood poisoning.
An anomaly in the fog
A lurker in the lilacs
When in the doorway bloomed.
Do I just flat out ask—
Hey! What’s your name?
Written for Shay's Word Garden using words from her word list taken from "The Waste Land and Other Poems" by TS Eliot. And for d'Verse's Open Link Night (with a little twist of Whitman's lilac). And it's a secret (for Poets & Storytellers United) I guess I don't mind telling now as my father is with Joseph.
35 comments:
Enjoyed. See ghosts myself from time to time.
Hi Tony, Glad I'm not the only with with "visitations"!
What an interesting response to the prompt! My family is Irish, so many ghost visitations. I enjoyed "or maybe I have cataracts" - so wry. This was fun to read.
Sherry, Thanks!! Yeah, Irish, me too. Your comment left me smiling:)
Funny these "glimpses" into a shadowy or invisible world that leave you wondering, and you describe that encounter and its back history, so poignant with memories of your father, in such a ruminative manner that it draws us in. Perfect ending: the humor like a release of tension. Beautiful writing, Yvonne.
Dora,
Thank you so much for your beautiful comment!
Ha! That ending. Is it true about your father and Joseph?
Yes, Shay, that is true. Why didn't I question him about it? Another regret. He seemed so confident and I, just taken aback, dumbly nodded and help him put on his shoes, then went about my day.
this was a joy to read - the humour, the doubts and the rhythm
This is so much fun
I agree, a very enjoyable read! 🩷🩷
I really enjoyed this--the possible encounter, the family history, the wondering, and wry humor. 😊
Wonderful writing and a joy to read :)
Yvonne, I like the emotional ambiguity and how you question what you're experiencing. Maybe answers -- which may or may not come -- aren't as important as the questions.
Oh my, I love this: mistaking angels for ghosts.
The questioning is one for the ages.
Your take on how it all works - or doesn't - resonates.
Luv luv that last verse😊
Thanks for dropping by to read mine.
Much♡love
When an unreal world merges into reality ghosts and angels become so real; so surreal. A very enjoyable read.
I have the same question about those things I see out the corner of my eye. I think we are our own angels when we talk to ourselves from our souls.
I enjoyed reading this a lot, especially the dark humor of the angel unable to prevent those accidents your father had. (my father would probably blamed the angel for being the cause)
I am always seeing things moving in the corner of my eye, and sometimes the landscape splits. It could be cataracts, but I think it's often a relaxation of our normal tendency to organize what we see--we miss so much, really. Who knows what is in between the patterns we've imposed?
Joseph as Guardian Angel ... I love how he protected your Dad AND I believe him.
I love the revelation and also the uncertainty in the poem, how you're sure you saw something and yet you doubt yourself. It's such a relatable experience you describe, but also magical :-)
I enjoyed your beautiful written poem I've got the floaters in my eyes Shadows that sometimes fly past. Love the memory of your father. I believe in guardian angels. They have been there for me at times. Sometimes we don't know all the reasons why some things happen. That's why I love the story 'Good thing, bad thing, who knows?' that shows that bad things are sometimes good things.
Fascinating speculations, beautifully expressed.
It would be wonderful if floaters were friendly ghosts or guardian angels. I liked the flow of your thoughts and the lyrical line: lurker in the lilacs.
This really invites to do some thinking and interpreting.
Love this line "lurker in the lilacs"
This is excellent - very well crafted.
The ending is perfect - ask.
Please read my post
Beautiful blog
Hope it's only a floater!
Yes, what's the point of a ghost if it doesn't do anything, do something, protect. Love it.
An enjoyable read, Yvonne, surreal and beautiful.
Never ask a ghost a question. They never answer, only observe.
Ahh this gave me the shivers! I often see things out of the corners of my eyes…I’ve never asked them their names. A wonderful poem, Yvonne.
Thanks for all of your insightful comments. I read (and read again) and treasure every one.
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