Ghosts----modern technology

Ghosts

Modern technology allows
the capturing of moments
from the outside in. Video
& audio actions seized,
then flattened in pixels
and .wav files: 1’s & 0’s.

While posing uneasily for one
quick pic, Mother stands in her
wrinkled Muumuu promptly
muttering,
“Oh, stow that damn camera.”

Through diagonal TV images, you…
Voyeur, perhaps even Gravedigger, now
reliving moments gone like lost breaths.

You pause the remote control and wish—
like Our Town’s Emily--that moments
could genuinely be re-lived, appreciating
their precious,  under-treasured passage.

But you sigh, recognizing you’ve only
captured their slight impressions on these
mechanical senses, in today’s technology.
Their spirit has evaded all the strengths
of your desires---and present science.

                                 alan wayne greenwood