when the ghosts

When the ghost
Came to visit me last night
I opened my covers

Let her in
She told me she misses you
She told me it hurt more than
She had hoped
She curled up inside my arm pit

When the ghost came to visit me
Last night

I let her in
Under the covers, like she was used to
She told me she was sorry
She never meant to hurt me
Her probing fingers were part of her anger
She curled up inside my knee.

When the ghost came
To visit me last night

I let him in
He told me he was angry
No one was there when
They set him on fire
No one was there to hear him burn

He curled up in my wrist

When the ghosts came to
Visit me last night
I let them in
They sat round the edges of my bed
201 of them, mangled from the machinery
down the mine shaft

I am sorry
I told them

They shook their heads
No amount of blood-letting
They said

They want nothing from me now
Except for me to open my covers every night
Let them sleep in my bed

They curled up, one by 201
Inside my head.