MARION COUTHOUY SMITH

THE COMPOSITE GHOST

They were placed on exhibition, in a long, imposing row,

All who’d borne the name of Spriggins for three centuries or so;

From old Amram, who came over in the Pilgrim Fathers’ track,

To the late lamented Jane, for whom the family still wore black.

They stood upon a hardwood shelf, in rich and proud array,

Not disposed, I beg to state, in any grim, offensive way.

They were not a row of mummies, standing terrible and tall,