OR AS IF

Something’s gone wrong
in the developing.

The photograph shows us
(solid as could be)

being taken in by the camera.

But it also overlaps
a ghostly you & me
(from another photo) .

We fade in & out
of ourselves

(who remain totally unfazed staring at the camera) .

It’s as if we’re Star Trek
& have just beamed down or up
unsuccessfully) .

We beam at the camera
capturing our souls

(always thought I was missing a molecule or two) .

Or as if we’ve invented a time machine
& have gone to visit ourselves in the past

& it’s all gone
horribly wrong.

Or as if we’ve been dead for years & years

staring at the camera(captured sunlight)

and we’re some poor old ghosts visiting us

and smiling at an invisible
dicky bird.