Two Hobbyist Ghost Researchers

I listed to an Art Bell show about two
hobbyist ghost researchers
who explored haunted locations
and recorded EVPs
electronic voice phenomenon
the alleged sounds of ghosts
captured with spirit boxes
I could hear what were supposed
to be words from ghosts
and they did sound as if they were
for example, one said, “wake up”
another in a haunted prison clearly
said “help, I’m in here”
one that sounded like a child
said “I can’t see” and was
heartrending to listen to

it all was more than a bit spooky but
it got spookier when both of them
nonchalantly said they’d been
followed home by ghosts before
as if it were no big deal and
not a terrifying experience
one of them said she told
it it wasn’t wanted in her home
and it just went away
I don’t know about you, but
having a ghost follow me home
would frighten me beyond words.

Bob Boyd

Dead People Talking

Individuals and groups
seeking to capture
the voices of the dead
using spirit boxes

a word here
a phrase there
as if out of the air

but not as much
talking as when they
were alive

many doubt the validity
of the vague sounds
of the dead allegedly
speaking out of the
spirit world

the EVPs captured
in spirit boxes

alleged to be the
words of the dead.

Bob Boyd

Welcome to Zombie Land

People frozen in place
some bent over and
swaying side to side
some stumbling about
others walking slo mo
many passed out on
the concrete sidewalks
some living on them
welcome to zombie
land, Kensington,
Ave Philadelphia, PA
some are dying and
most are dead already
or soon will be dead
you’re in a god forsaken
hell of drug addicts
Kensington, Ave
Philadelphia, PA
where city leaders
allow it to happen
drug addicts living
moving like zombies
on Kensington, Ave
it’s a goddamn mess
a goddamn shame.

Bob Boyd