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Just Friendly Neighborhood Ghosts by hil hoover

Just Friendly Neighborhood Ghosts 

by hil hoover


Hey, put away your salt and rosemary, 

your book and your bell,

you don't need your mama's witch jar 

or your daddy’s warding spell. 


We’re not here to ruin your day

or drag you down to hell, 

so just give me a minute 

and your worries I will quell. 


My Mama in the kitchen there 

just likes to smell the food

but she don't eat a crumb now 

so don't let her sour your mood. 


If you're sweet to her,

she’ll share a recipe

and tip some extra nilla in

if she thinks you're too stingy. 


My papa with his blustery breath

might make the room too cool, 

but he's just a sweet old fella

who used to teach high school. 


Leave your papers out 

and he’ll refine your work 

or give him the crossword

to finish with a smirk. 


If you hear jazz on Saturday, 

it's just their grand romance, 

they move right through the table now 

when they decide to dance. 


And me? I don't take up any room

I'm so very small, 

but some new comic books 

would make me the happiest ghost of all. 


Oh, put away your salt and rosemary, 

your book and your bell,

you don't need your mama's witch jar 

or your daddy’s warding spell. 


We're just a happy family 

who weren't done living yet,

and we'll be the best neighbors

that you've ever met!

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2 Comments


Omar Najam
Oct 20

It's impossible to pick my favorite moment and image in this poem. I think the dancing through the table is one of the best uses of astral shapes. It's something so lovely and so lively, but so specifically ghost-like!

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hil hoover
hil hoover
Oct 21
Replying to

I'm so glad you picked that out, because that was my favorite thing to write, that image of this couple continuing to live out the same routine they'd done in life except no longer needing to move the furniture. (Who knew fanfic involving ghosts would pay off for thinking of astral physics lol.)

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