I used to think I knew ghosts
until last night
standing in the synagogue
in a cluster of slightly altered DNA
the rabbi reciting Kaddish
in exhumed tones
I became one
a ghost partially seen partially detected
a being trapped in eternity not flesh
eternal like hands that reshape air
like whispers that reshape the mind
until last night I was another parked car in the lot
another kibitzer in the hallway
I saved you a seat I saved him a seat
I saved seats for the future
for the transient children
and in relinquishing mass to the planet
we performed our ghostly duty
and moved on