a song of ghosts

When I washed my hands for the 20th time that day

I stared in the mirror above the sink

as I dried my hands

a hollow eyed ghost stared back at me.

My lips parted to speak 

and the ghost's lips parted, too

so I waited to hear what he had to say

but the words whispered out and I could not tell.

Once again I started to speak

and once again I waited in deference

and I strained my ears as he spoke

and he said "sorry, I'm sorry".

I nodded as if I understood

and waited longer to invite

any other word he cared to speak

but he slowly shook his head and I shook mine, too.

So at last I could say what I wanted to say

and as I spoke the ghost shook his head

his hollow eyes grew more hollow

his haunted face grew more haunted.

I spoke to the ghost and he shook his head

even I could not hear the words I spoke

I wondered if I'd become deaf after all

but the ghost assured me that I hadn't.

I caste my eyes up and down

I glanced from left to right

and turned my head to look over my shoulder

but there was no ghost nearby.

Then I stared straight ahead

into the mirror of the past

into the mirror of the future

straining for a glimpse of the now.

The ghost stared back without emotion

and when I started to speak he turned his head

so I hesitated

and washed my hands again.