Hungry Ghost

The moon was round,
yellow and bright,
at Sam Wun Chuk,
that August night.

Mich and I,
we were famished,
so filled our bellies,
with 3 Bowl porridge.

The waiter brought,
to my disgust,
his thumb in broth,
Is that a must?

I must admit,
disgust was fleeting,
for the joy,
is in the eating.

Our hunger appeased,
we turned attention,
to the impending,
conversation.

For tonight,
of many others,
we share our land,
with undead brothers.

The Hungry Ghosts,
it would appear,
will walk the earth,
2 months this year.

A fact reminded,
by my sister dear,
"Come not after midnight!'
"You'll bring them here!"

I realise,
something's not right,
for Mich had gone,
quite pale and white.

"I see them..", she said,
thru lips turned purple,
I knew she meant,
"I see dead people..."

"Ignore them!", I say,
as calm I might,
my timely advice,
lost to the night.

"I can't, I can't...",
"..my Qi is low!"
"I have been warned...
by a mosquito".

I squint my eyes,
next to her ear,
a mosquito indeed,
hovers near.

"She looks at me!",
said Mich frantically,
jumping to her feet,
ready to flee.

That very moment,
on my back I feel,
something creepy,
something...evil.

Without a thought,
I thrust my arms,
to restrain evil,
from causing harm.

I crane my neck,
and looked straight,
into crimson eyes,
that seem quite dead.

Long, coarse hair,
black of colour,
enveloped a face,
of greyish pallor.

My skin crawled,
but momentarily,
it looked surprised,
and then was angry.

With wicked snarl,
it hisses bile,
into my eye,
that thing so vile.

My face contorted,
my lips withdrawn,
flashed wolfen fangs,
my teeth were gone.

Our growls fill,
the air with dread,
for this twilight,
who will meet fate?

In bed I soaked,
in my own sweat,
did I but dream,
of hungry dead?

- Stephen Tan '06