on my mind this night

Suppose we came back as ghosts asking the unasked questions.

 (What were you there for? Why did you walk out? What
 would have made you stay? Why wouldn't you listen?)

-Couldn't you show us what you meant, can't we get it right
this time? Can't you put it another way?-

(You were looking for openings where they'd been walled up-)

-But you were supposed to be our teacher-

(One-armed, I was trying to get you, one by one, out of that
cellar.   It wasn't enough)

~ from Telephone Ringing In The Labyrinth, by Adrienne Rich