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Wednesday, July 17, 2019

POETRY: THE VICTIM’S GHOST By John Grey

THE VICTIM’S GHOST

By John Grey

In daylight, your ghost
is barely visible.
My breath makes
more of a wisp.

You try to rustle the curtains.
But they don’t budge.

And forget that whisper in my ear.
My dog’s fleas make more
noise than you do.

At night, your performance improves.
Set against the shadows,
those threads of your existence
do stand out a little.

But the haunting needs work.
Your wails
would be much more impressive
if you could turn the volume up.
And what’s the point of having
the right shape,
if you don’t come
with familiar features.

How about a splash
of blood
where the knife went in.
A grim gurgle
like the life
is oozing out of you.

As the phantom of the one I murdered,
you’re severely lacking.
I don’t see you on my conscience
anytime soon.


John Grey is an Australian poet, US resident. Recently published in That, Dunes Review, Poetry East and North Dakota Quarterly with work upcoming in Haight-Ashbury Literary Journal, Thin Air, Dalhousie Review and failbetter.

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