Haunted house

Stone walls and chimneys

doorways and window openings

linger longest

stand inside eyes open

slide window panes aside

set the slots for the roof beams

frame the tiles

listen for hinge-squeal and door-slam

footsteps on a rough-hewn floor

what do you call that colour

listen to the crackle of the fire

the black stew pot

swinging on the fire hook

smell the kerosene lamp

hear the pull of thread through cotton

patch on trousers

edging on baby clothes

set the cradle here

set the table here

share a minute with the family

who lived loved lost here

and tell me there are no ghosts