Leaving The Light Off (Poetry)

The early hours — just
the hall light burning
a low energy bulb
but enough to travel by — no
need to throw another switch
for I can see well enough
for my purposes — besides
I know this layout in the dark ...

then I catch my image
almost by surprise
crossing the bathroom mirror
wraith-grey in the gloom
I stop and stare because
it looks so little like me

it gazes straight back
eyes holding some vague disbelief.

It can’t think who I am
although there’s something
so familiar about my face
its shadows jog the memory ...

Meanwhile lips open and then close
fish-dumb — saying nothing ...

We sigh in unison —
this ghost and I
                        share the moment
                                         like strangers.