i am haunted by the eternal ghosts of this city
and the ghosts of my dead ancestors
and the ghosts of my unborn children

somewhere down the line someone might forgive me
for looking too intently and ignoring what i see
and taking things i don't want as payment for things i've lost
but it won't be anytime soon

life is heaven and hell and purgatory
and when we die there is nothing left
there is no way to measure or experience eternity