After ten long years
Johnny returned home
Everything seemed unchanged
The Aged father sat
in his usual garden chair
Johnny rushed forward to embrace him
But his father looked away
Did he not recognize his own son?
It really seemed that way
He screamed out to him
But he continued to look away
So he shouted his own name
But the old man still looked away
Father, have you forgotten me?
He asked him finally
This time he stared blankly
Johnny panicked and rushed inside
He found his mother seated
Serenely in her usual chair
She did not recognize him either
When he tried to greet her
She just looked into space
And then quietly disappeared
He ran outside again
His father was no longer there
Johnny was at a total loss
He leaned across the wall
And asked a neighbor in a voice quite meek
If his parents often played hide and seek
The neighbor glared at him in shock and disbelief
Then in a calm voice announced
'As you were pursuing your career at sea
You heard not your helpless parents’ pleas
They succumbed to a dreadful disease
You should visit a shrink immediately
This house has for over four years been empty'
Sandra Martyres
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/haunted-51/
