Halloween Ghost

When I was just a boy, growing up in Chicago
  My best friend was "Jimmy", who loved the monsters so!

  He was younger than me in more ways than one,
  But I enjoyed my time with him...we always had fun.

  One year for Halloween he bought monsters to build,
  Needing my help, we painted and glued and every cavity filled.

  There was Dracula, Frankenstein, the Werewolf, and the Mummy,
  Resplendently painted, delicious and yummy.

  Each was about 12 inches high
  With features that would make a little one cry.

  We set them in a window box with a black light behind
  Turned off the house lights for a real "Trick or Treat" find.

  Jimmy went out in to get his share of the goodies, too
  And when he came back, there was more than enough for us two.

  What really struck me that Halloween night,
  Was the five foot ghost, below the street light.

  Truly a sight to behold it was there,
  And to more than one person did it give a scare.

  Its white shaded body was like none I had seen
  With a face of a gorgon, I was ready to scream.

  It just stood there on the sidewalk watching the kids at the door
  You can believe that those kids always got more.

  I watched this ghost go up and down the street
  Watching the youngsters getting their sweets.

  Then, I realized, it was Jimmy's mom dressed in a sheet
  It covered her over, from her head to her feet.

  The mask that she wore was a scary one 
  But like the monsters in the window,  just done for fun.

  That fluorescent face I will never forget
  I didn't care for monsters...with little regret.

  Her costume rocked me to the core that night
  For the first time I saw it, I had a real fright.

  For I had never expected to see an adult
  Dress up in costume, much less the occult.

  So that is the Halloween that I remember the most
  When a lady I knew, dressed up as a ghost.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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Kendrick Avatar
November 20, 2010 at 5:01 PM
Congratulations on your win..Sara
Mehta Avatar
November 20, 2010 at 3:28 PM
Congratulations on this well deserved win, Daniel
Devonshire Avatar
November 20, 2010 at 1:19 PM
Congratulations on your big win, Daniel! Love, Carolyn
Richards Avatar
November 20, 2010 at 1:00 PM
So nice to share this honor with you Daniel....this is a wonderful memory you have shared with us! Congratulations!
Johnson Avatar
November 20, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Congrtulations Daniel on this wonderful memory and your win. Love, Joyce
Sweetheart Avatar
November 20, 2010 at 11:43 AM
Congrats Dan on your super amazing first place win in Paula's contest.. with this exceptional entry luv.. a perfect piece expressing the theme.. Happy Thanksgiving my friend .. with luv..
Sweetheart Avatar
October 30, 2010 at 6:15 AM
A cool write on a Halloween weekend Dan.. enjoyed your tale of fun and frolic in the theme of Halloween spirit.. have a good one my friend with luv..
Devonshire Avatar
October 30, 2010 at 4:38 AM
What a delightful story, Daniel. Jimmy's mom probably enjoyed giving everyone a little scare and it may have been her way of patrolling the Halloween events to ensure kids' safety. Great story, my friend, and I wish you success in the contest. Love, Carolyn
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