In A Flap

Some say the dead man’s been seen.
That he spoke. And that some
returned his gaze and spoke back.

I’d go out of my mind if I turned
to find him standing next to me
as I lifted up my pint.

Perhaps he’d say,
‘You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.’
And laugh. But I don’t believe

a word of what I’ve heard. It’s ridiculous.
Absurd. Though something’s putting the wind
up me today. And scaring the birds.


The Long Weekend