The hungry ghosts
enter our homes
after the light dims
after our eyes close
after our souls set.

The hungry ghosts
feast on the remains
of our day's banquet:
    burned toast,
    misplaced attention,
    unseen beauty,
    hoarded mercy.

The hungry ghosts
are those of us
who starved to death
seated at the feast.
They leave sated,
grateful for our neglect.

Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.