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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
GHOSTS, by WALT MASON Poet's Biography
First Line: Often when I cannot sleep, in my dark and
Last Line: Ghosts—spectres which are never laid.
Subject(s): Ghosts; Supernatural
First Line: Often when I cannot sleep, in my dark and
Last Line: Ghosts—spectres which are never laid.
Subject(s): Ghosts; Supernatural
OFTEN when I cannot sleep, in my dark and quiet room, ugly phantoms round me
creep, grinning at me in the gloom. Oft they come in grisly bands, to my sorrow
and my shame, beckoning with fleshless hands, clanking chains and breathing
flame. Many sinful things I've done, in the days that are gone by; that
advantage might be won, I have sprung the vicious lie. Adding to this wad of
mine, I've been tricky, mean and low, and I skinned a learned divine in a horse
trade, long ago. In my scheming for the kale, at no trifles would I stop; when I
had some spuds for sale, all the biggest were on top. I've committed many
crimes; I confess it, now I'm gray; I have voted seven times on the same
election day. And when sleep from me recedes, and I lie in bed awake, ghosts of
all these evil deeds come and fill me with an ache. Man of his achievements
boasts, of the "killings" he has made; but he can't escape the
ghosts—spectres which are never laid.
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