My Mother and Other Ghosts

My mother’s ghost is
kind and benevolent
she shows herself
mostly in the kitchen,
in my children’s strength,
and in my father’s heart.
She does not show herself often
and sometimes
I even have to
wish for her,
but when she comes
I know it.

She does not haunt me
like the others do.
My ex husband,
alive still,
haunts me the most.
His ghost appears
out of no where,
takes a simple
sentence or every day
situation and
turns it into an
earthquake
in my head.
He comes when I
least expect him
reeking havoc,
taunting in the
ways he does best.

The creaky door,
spine tingling ghosts
appear less frequently.
Mostly in the night,
always out of sight
conjuring images of
souls trapped.
Sad and lonely
just coming to say hello.
I welcome these.
They are easy to
make happy.
Passing in the darkness.
Hello I whisper.
Hello.