Ghosts

You feel them more that see 
them
They inhabit the great divide
Trapped in a parallel nightmare 
Of lost dreams and being 
unemployed. 

They eat in highway rest stops
Where food is fast and hot
Then hurriedly wash in 
bathroom sinks
Ashamed of being caught. 

At night they sleep on our 
beaches
Wrapped in ragged dirty 
shrouds
But they vaporize in the 
morning
Unseen by vacationing crowds

These people are our neighbors
Regardless of address
Yet they walk unseen among 
us
In exiled loneliness 

Where do they fit in our 
system
In this land of the brave and 
the free
Walking ghosts in tattered 
coats
They belong to you and me. 

That means you and me the 
people
They are our sisters and our 
brothers
I read somewhere in an 
ancient 
book
Do unto me as you would to 
others.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

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A   Avatar
August 29, 2014 at 10:24 AM
Joe, Thank You For replying to my comment :) LINDA
A   Avatar
August 24, 2014 at 11:00 AM
Joe, Stopping by to check out a few of the featured poems:) Congratulations on having your poem featured on the soup's home page. Always~ LINDA
Murphy Avatar
August 25, 2014 at 6:08 AM
Thank you Linda. It is an honor to be featured. Stay well. Joe
Green Avatar
March 8, 2014 at 10:32 AM
Not only was the poem phenomenal, but the message as well
Murphy Avatar
March 9, 2014 at 1:53 PM
Amy, thank you for the kind words.
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