we like to think that only the dead
are ghosts, and we've heard some
say there they were as if, clear as day,
yes, they were.

and my mama used to say she could
see her lost baby, the one she did and
the one that miscarried, the way
they would have grown up into
pretty girls like me--

and lord how she waited on
forgiveness like it was a thing
that visited but some **** just
ain't show up ever,
like people and fathers
and brothers when you need 'em

they all the ghosts that won't
visit, they got too much on
their minds, too much time
and you ain't the one they
hauntin.