The Ghost And Me.... Poem by PARTHA SARATHI PAUL

A middle-aged female ghost
called at me last night.
She got inside though
all the windows and the door were shut tight.

My bedroom felt the cold
of the winter outside.
My alcohol hot body
was giving in to such an unwelcome sight.

She was of above average height;
fairer than white paper- -
well draped in a housewife`s saree
with long black hair a bit awry.

The well placed vermillion
in her clear parting shone crimson red
in the sleep-time light.
And I shrank in my sunk bed.

All the times I turned my face away
in unease or fear,
the lady ghost came very near.
Ah, I tried hard to sheer!

Now my bed was rocking like a cradle
and I was as frightened as a sissy child.
As the ghost unleashed her wicked fable
my state went dead or stark wild.

Who knows what happened later?
Who will ask me to remember?
The next morning I read the message
she left behind on a mirror`s visage.

'Keep away from my young daughter
or my ugly self will do sunder- - - - - -
she has lost her heart to you
but if you take it, I will kill you'.