the ghosts come sideways

diagonal

vertical

forwards

backwards

and up from the floorboards

angry fellows

one holds a clock

the other a ring

one a set of keys

two are cradling a marble coffin

and one has my face on a pole

my heart wedged in my mouth

that's a new one, I think to myself

normally he just laughs at me

Christ, don't tell me he's running out of

ideas, too.

As we get older

the more things,

pets and people

we know or love

go to their graves

one by one

they leave us

like limbs dropping

from an old trunk

or

you will know

or love someone

who has things,

pets and people

going to their graves

one by one

until it comes

for us, too

until we become

a headshake over

a glass of beer.