Aviva Maxon ’24
Poetry Columnist
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Really the lamp in your room
While you leave for a moment
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Really the light in your car
While you search for a mask
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Really the candle you lit
While you open the windows
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Really the light from your phone
While you pretend to sleep
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Maybe this time,
We can have an actual ghost light
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Really it’s the sound of the air conditioner
When you stand under it
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Really it’s the sound of the cotton woods
When the wind goes just so
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Really it’s the sound of cars in a row
When they’re waiting to leave
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Maybe this time,
We can have an actual ghost light
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Really it’s the smell of Piñon
Where it burns in homes
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Really it’s the smell of cookies
Where they bake in your childhood
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Really it’s the smell of rain
Where it falls and you dance
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Maybe this time,
We can have an actual ghost light
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Really it’s the taste of watermelon
With a sweetness to make you smile
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Really it’s the taste of salt
With a bitterness to make you remember
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Really it’s the taste of honey
With a stickiness to make you stop
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Maybe this time,
We can have an actual ghost light
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Really it’s the feeling of wood
under your feet
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Really it’s the feeling of spring
coming home
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Really it’s the feeling of warmth
Who’s never yours
The ghost light stays on
Well,
Maybe this time,
We can have an actual ghost light
The ghost light stays on
Well,
A light at least
While you look at the stars,
Where you were,
Was always home,
With them
The ghost light stays on.
Image Source: Gabi Seifert ’23
