The Spook Ballads is a collection of humorous "ghost poetry" stories in verse, written by William Theodore Parkes. Excerpt:

"O blessed chance!" the Ghost exclaimed, "Thou art the only one

Of all men else, who spoke me so, they always turn and run!

Thou art the first, that I have seen drop sympathetic tears,

Responsive to my moanings, aye for full one hundred years!

And so I feel that I can speak in unreserving tone,

And give thee cause for this alack! my chronic nightly groan!"