There is a man who lives on the floor.
He came with the house.
We often have to step around him
But mostly he is no problem.
He can sometimes be found under the couch.
When we have guests
He is always under there.
We can hear him breathing.
Sometimes other people can hear him too.
Sometimes when he is under there
He rolls a dusty cat toy out
Trying to be helpful.
You might wonder if we miss our privacy.
Well, he is very discreet.
He seems to go somewhere at night.
But he is always back in the morning
With a smile, happy to see us.
He can walk.
When the moon is out
We have seen him walking around in the yard
But he prefers sprawling on our floor.
He has never introduced himself,
And that is fine with us.
We have been talking about down-sizing,
Maybe moving south to a warmer state.
Honestly we won't miss him,
But I will feel sorry for him
Because, how many people
Would be willing to live in a house
With a man on the floor?
.......
Who is the man on the floor? He has no name. He comes with the house. He is not just a figment of the poet's imagination but his breathing is sometimes heard by others. He has been known to roll a dusty cat toy out from under the couch. This is the kind of thing that might happen in an old house if the owners are believers in ghosts.
If you believe in ghosts, you might not be put off if your realtor discloses that the house you are buying is reputed to have one. This ghost-man on the floor is harmless, but who is he? What is his story? The poem doesn't go there. Was he a recluse who died alone?
Even as a ghost he keeps to himself. This poem is a strange one. It opens that door to the question, "Are we alone? Are there spirits around us that reveal their presence to certain people but not others? (For instance, me and not my brother.) And if so, should we try to communicate with them or would that just be an indulgence?" This ghost seems to be content with his ghostly existence, but seems to enjoy sharing the house with his (living) co-inhabitants. As if honoring their need for privacy, he seems to disappear at night, instead of disturbing them as a poltergeist. Apparently he enjoys walking around the yard on moon-lit nights. The poet worries that the next owners will not appreciate his existence or his ghostly right to live there.
(Article changed on Jan 26, 2026 at 11:16 AM EST)
(Article changed on Jan 26, 2026 at 11:50 AM EST)
(Article changed on Jan 26, 2026 at 4:36 PM EST)
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