The good thing about good people

is that they are transparent.

The bad thing about ghosts is

they are transparent.

In fact the way you see through them

you don't see them at all!

And when you can see a ghost

it isn't quite a ball!

In fact you are up against

a transparent vapour wall.

A few things it were best

to know about ghosts--

they are bad hosts

for they are never in station;

and worse guests:

they barge in -- invitation

or no invitation.

Ghosts are not bad omens--

they don't bring doom.

They don't come in through chimneys.

They don't ride a broom.

But ghost stories can be true.

I could tell you a few.

Old hotels where stairs creak

and where door hinges squeak

are full of stories that eerily speak

of ghosts and churails.

I've heard it tell

a lady ghost bathing

in a Mussoorie hotel.

Every night you heard

water running and the clink

of bangles on her unseen hand.

But going to the bathroom

you'd see the floor quite dry

and silence draped

on the towel stand.

Once a forest guard saw

one fifth of his face--

the ghost's face;

he only saw eyebrows and goatee.

Another saw no legs, but sailing by

he saw a dhoti.

And in a village

birds would suddenly stop

their morning bicker

and their morning twitter.

They had sensed a ghost there

rummaging in the litter.

But let's end these stories

for ghosts give me the jitters!