“Ghost stories written…” by Charles Simic

 
 
 
 
 
“Ghost stories written…”
 
 
Charles Simic
 
 
 
 
 
     Ghost stories written as algebraic equations.
Little Emily at the blackboard is very frightened.
The X’s look like a graveyard at night. The teacher
wants her to poke among them with a piece of
chalk. All the children hold their breath. The white
chalk squeaks once among the plus and minus
signs, and then it’s quiet again.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
***
 
 
 

~ by samofthetenthousandthings on July 17, 2020.