Jumping to Assumptions

He thought he saw – and told his friends –
a floating, waving ghost.
They looked themselves and saw it was
washed clothes caught round a post.

He thought he saw – the kids he scared –
a flying witch and broom.
Next night he saw how he’d been duped
– eyes tricked by light of moon.

He thought he heard words critical
and shouted wildly back,
if he the scene could have replayed,
there had been no attack.

He thought he saw a UFO,
but others disagreed,    
for they saw but a phantom sun,
– mistake he’d not concede.

He thought he saw a monster rise,
up from the lake at night,
it sank again, he didn’t know
a prankster planned that sight.

He thought his friend betrayed his trust,
and swore and wouldn’t stay:
another’d overheard and told
his haste led him astray.

Some people never can accept
their views are ever wrong,
they fight all argument and find
their loneliness is long.

[IP: 'I thought I saw... ' ]

This is a slightly changed reposting of something done for an IP in 2013, but I thought it was useful to dig it out, but didn't want to delete the previous version as there are many comments from past members eg Silver Spun Sand (Tina), Bee, Jean Day

https://www.abctales.com/story/rhiannonw/jumping-conclusions-ip