Ghost

In the family photos
I am the one
Standing transparent between
Former siblings,
Former in-laws and nephews and nieces.
I don’t block anyone’s view, or make anyone laugh with my bad puns.

I am captured on film
A poltergeist looking straight into the camera unsmiling
The harbinger of a wrong-doing
“committed years ago, you know,
very sad, actually”
buried outside the churchyard
morphing from flesh to bone to legend to less than legend to ghost.

And later, a former something-or-other will
Hold the portrait close, examine that space in between and say
“isn’t that…”
Your dinner guest will ask—as is only appropriate—
“There was someone before?”
I’ll watch from the photo as you answer
“Not really…”
And blow her a cold kiss.