Home » Poems » Joyce Johnson » Castle On the Hill

Castle On the Hill

I took my children in October
To a castle in the hills.
We were enchanted by its splendor,
Awing grandeur and strange thrills.

Purple plumes of smoke were pouring
From big chimneys in the sky.
The silver moon came out of hiding.
Scary bats began to fly.

I told my self I couldn’t go on
With those bats flying around.,
But with my children so excited,
I simply could not let them down. 

I heard moans and groans  and cackles
Coming from those castle rooms
And I thought I saw some witches
Flying wildly on their brooms.

I gathered up my children
Fearing that one could be lost
With ghosts and goblins in the castle.
That would be too high a cost.

So I took them to a motel
Where live folks were all about.
Real spooks on Halloween is something
I for one could do without.

I took a head count of my children
And I seemed to have one more
Than I had when we went bravely
Through that big old castle door.

I took him with us trick or treating
Up and down the city street.
He was already dressed in costume,
Eye holes poked into a sheet.

I got them ready for the bathtub
Before putting them to bed
And to help the little stranger,
Pulled the sheet from off his head. 

I dropped the sheet and left it lying
Upon the bathroom floor.
When I turned to bathe the urchin
He was not there any more.

The next Halloween my children
Went trick or treating once again.
I counted twice, and there were four
Where only my three should have been.

So it’s been forever after,
Just the same each Halloween
I take my children trick or treating
With another in between.

He’s just as happy as the others
With his bag of candy treats,
But when I try to free him of them
He’s not there beneath the sheets.

I am hoping when my children
Such small pleasures have out grown,
I’ll still have that little stranger,
I need not trick or treat alone.

    

  ( I took one from my past and changed it a bit to fit.  It is not absolutely new.  You 
didn't mention if it had to be. all new.  I can remove it if necessary.

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.