O Ghosts of Spirits Past

Hotel Queen Elizabeth Lobby notes:
Easy chairs and fireplace with view out of window of Place Ville Marie with its promises of a future that never happened
cosy comfort décor with soft xmas music,a bourgeois celebration of ‘Home Sweet Home’ with a hollow echo and hidden cameras
one old guy asleeping in imitation Victorian easy chair and awaking up eyeing me with questioning frown
another guy nearby on cell phone speaking in cheery dulcet tenor of a deal in process that will probably impact on lives of thousands
“ ..the Swiss or Londoner?..oh..yes..interesting times.. ..complications..he’ll be back..he’s a businessman.. more money on the side for Stephen.. maybe let George in..of course..that’s understood..”
suddenly next week or next month somewhere in the world another famine or another civil war
reported on CNN
O ghosts of spirits past