Happy Halloween!

Busy weekend, busy autumn: I never got around to my traditional Halloween card, so here's a blast from the past which has come to mind several times this week, so clearly she wants to make an appearance:

Devil’s Night

It was called Devil’s Night in the town where I lived

That veiled night before Halloween,

When goblins came out and devils ran wild

And some said that witches were seen.

We kids stayed inside, safe in our beds

And whispered of what there might be—

But one year we intended to see for ourselves,

My sister, my black cat and me.

The sun had long set and the darkness had come

To wrap all the houses in black,

When we crawled out the window and crept ‘cross the lawn

And none of us even looked back.

Though the wind tapped our shoulders and played with our hair

And ran through the leaves with mad glee,

We were stalwart and true like the heroes we knew,

My sister, my black cat and me.

We had never quite said, but each knew in our heads

The goal of our late night foray;

There was only one house whose black shutters and spires

Cast long inky shadows by day.

The house of nightmares was the subject of dares

For children much older than we,

But we knew we must try to sneak in and spy,

My sister, my black cat and me.

As we walked on our own down the mist-shrouded lane

The goblin cries rang through the night.

My sister told me, with an air of disdain,

That I should not take any fright.

“It’s only some kids wrapped in sheets that they hid,

That they took from their mother’s laundry.”

And we continued along with much knocking of knees

By my sister, my black cat and me.

The house loomed ahead with its turrets like spikes

Aimed at a portentous sky

The old shutters rattled and the chimney howled doom

But the wind smelled like pumpkin pie.

“An old witch lives here and she eats little kids,”

My sister heard from Katie Lee

And we were likely to die if we drew too near by

My sister, my black cat and me.

“I’ll go up on the porch and ring her doorbell

then run—like the wind—quick away.

You go ‘round the back and give a sharp ratatat,

Before she can come out this way.”

Her plans carefully laid, my sister then stayed

As I walked toward the back door slowly,

I’ll admit I was scared and I felt ill- prepared,

No sister, just black cat and me.

As I prowled through the gloom I saw a bright room

And an old woman dressed all in black.

“It must be the witch,” I said to my cat

And shivered and shook in my tracks.

I wanted to run but I heard the doorbell

And I knew that my sister’s safety

Was all in my hands, so we gathered our breaths,

Poor little black cat and me.

I made a small fist and raised up my arm

To deliver the thunderous tap

But I froze to the spot when I saw a dark shape

That opened the door with a snap.

“I know what you want!” I hear the witch say

But my feet would not move to flee

And she swept us inside the warm kitchen’s light,

Poor little black cat and me.

My tears trickled down and I begged for my life

And the life of my little kitty.

The old witch just smiled and patted my head

And said to me, “Don’t be silly.

I’ve got oodles of pie and candy and fudge

And a gingerbread house so pretty,

And I wish you would share all the food I’ve prepared—

It’s too much for my big cat and me!”

I looked all around and my fear dissipated

The kitchen was cheerful and clean

And the huge oaken table was filled ‘til it groaned

With more treats than I’d ever seen—

Pies of all kinds and cookies with chips

And a big steaming pot of green tea,

And in front of the fire a great big cat yawned

At my ravenous black cat and me.

I said “Thank you ma’am!” and plopped down in a chair

And she set a blue plate before me

And I piled it up high with some warm pumpkin pie

And a big taste of each sweet dainty.

I was feeding my face and telling the witch of our chase

When my sister’s gaze fell upon me.

But it took little time before we brought her inside

To eat with my black cat and me.

So when you see a witch and your knees start to shake

And you’re tempted to run to the hills,

Just remember the night that we wandered quite late

Seeking out Devil’s Night thrills.

Some witches are good, and some witches are bad

But they all make amazing candy!

If you’re sweet and not rude, they might share their food

With your sister, your black cat and thee.