By Annette Marie Hyder

leaves rustle like empty candy wrappers
along the road
every shadow wears a mask
and the dark is costumed in cold

the witches and goblins
have all gone home
in their minivans and been put to bed
by now

i linger outside just wishing
on the sharp wind
that even one of the ghost stories
i've ever heard was true

because you're gone
i'd brave demons and monsters
real or imagined
if i could get ghosted by you
little brother
if i could get ghosted by you