Photo by Annie Spratt
Ghosts
Joseph Mills
When you’re young,
you don’t realize how many
ghosts are at the table
during the holidays,
helping in the kitchen,
suggesting recipes,
making music selections,
or that they’ve been invited.
Later, you’ll hear them coming,
hanging their coats in the hall,
laughing and making jokes,
arguing about something
that happened a lifetime ago
the lullaby of family.
When finally you are in charge
and can put decorations
exactly as you want it,
you still do things
as they’ve been done before.
The ghosts nod, satisfied,
agree to come back next year.
Joseph Mills
When you’re young,
you don’t realize how many
ghosts are at the table
during the holidays,
helping in the kitchen,
suggesting recipes,
making music selections,
or that they’ve been invited.
Later, you’ll hear them coming,
hanging their coats in the hall,
laughing and making jokes,
arguing about something
that happened a lifetime ago
the lullaby of family.
When finally you are in charge
and can put decorations
exactly as you want it,
you still do things
as they’ve been done before.
The ghosts nod, satisfied,
agree to come back next year.