All Hallows' Eve, a liminal time

When boundaries between worlds are not so defined.

Spirits may cross, so be mindful your treads

And don a costume to ward off the dead.

On this Samhain, the harvest has ended

The veil is thin, and the dead have descended

Make an offering and feast, but show no fear

Propitiate the spirits to be in the clear

Ensuring your survival for the coming drear.

Light the bonfire and cleanse in the smoke

Take some flames back to light the hearth in your home.

Guise home to home in exchange for some food

Recite verses to impress so the dead don't pursue.

Hollow a pumpkin with a face carved grotesque

Use as a lantern should the dead manifest

Ward off evil spirits with your ghoulish display

Or dance with the evil midst the dark and decay

On this Halloween night, when our world's veil is thin

And the dead can mingle with the living again

Revel with the spirits in your grisly disguise

When the living appear dead and the dead seem alive.

A group of kids, rowdy and bored

Went out to find some candy to hoard

It was the night of dress up and fun

One kid thought it cool that he'd 

      brought a gun

Another brought strong and spirited drink

He had stolen from under his 

      stepfather's sink

Someone else brought pot and 

      a bit of speed

What more did such adventure need?

They set off into the town celebration

Hoping to avoid anyone of relation

First stop, a house that all kids made fun

When the door opened, they'd 

       take off and run

In the house lived a very ugly old Dame

She always walked proud and

       never with shame

Rumor had it that the crone was a witch

Some folks thought she caused 

       people to itch

Reports that people believed in her power

Were written at this time of year 

       by the hour

Never had anyone submitted any proof

Police wouldn't think it more than a spoof

The group of youths swallowed liquid fire

Then entered her lawn kicking over a pyre

Whooping they made a mess of her yard

They didn't care if she was inside 

        standing gaurd

A bit of dry grass and the flick of a Bic

Set things ablaze and flames started to lick

The kids ran off laughing without any fear

Inside the old woman let go

        just one tear

The next thing the jovial bunch set to do

Was visit a garden where vegetables grew

They kicked over peppers and stepped 

        on the squash

After snorting some lines with fire to wash

Once they had nothing left to dig up

They decided to torture a sweet little pup

They threw him to each other like 

         a furry football

When finally bored he had no life at all

On to the next exciting event

The noisy unmerciful throng of boys went

They bullied youngsters who'd 

        gone out alone

They trashed yards and houses if 

        no one was home

All while shadows concealed a pair of eyes

Golden, glowing, someone small in size

It followed along baring witness to all

While sending back all of the things 

        that it saw

The fire was put out at the 

        old woman's house

Inside the lady was quiet as a mouse

In her parlor on a sofa she sat

Receiving all info sent back by the cat

There was no guilt and no shame 

         in the group

When on Mr. Watson's step they left poop

They laughed and destroyed everything

         in their path

Without any idea that they'd 

         invoked wrath

Next morning a man went out for a run

Right thru the park like other days

        he had done

He came over a hill and stopped 

        short in fright

A group of boys had been hung 

        in the night

They swayed from the branches of a 

        very big tree

Eyes wide and bulging, but they didn't see 

Then something caught the young 

        man's corner eye

He was sure a black cat had just 

        passed him by.

When all the little candy-seekers go to bed,

When the town is quiet, the lights are dead,

I go out in the street, and take a little walk,

My footsteps dulled like they're covered in chalk.

All creatures flee before my stride,

Along the darkened streets I glide,

Searching for stragglers, who fear not the night,

Who don't move quickly enough from my sight.