Halloweens of Old
.
I remember when Halloweens
Were all tricks and no treats.
The farmers for the most, too poor
To hand out many sweets.
Our mama sometimes let us have
Some apple bobbing parties,
Or made us her good popcorn balls.
Our appetites were hearty.
The big boys went out later on
A little fun to find.
If there was a bit of mischief
Our neighbors didn’t mind.
It was funny to see odd things
On the barn roofs the next day.
The fellows really meant no harm.
It was a form of play.
My daddy would make them go back
The neighborhood around
And offer to go on the roofs
To get machinery down.
My daddy hated having the
Outhouse toppled over.
To help him guard against this trick,
He would untie old Rover.
Rover was protective, he would
Give chase to miscreants.
Next day at school we’d look for kids
With patches on their pants.
Pants that were torn, still must be worn.
Their mammas did their best
To keep their children clothed and schooled
And did without the rest.
No money for fancy costumes
Not even a paper mask.
No one gave us store bought candy.
We didn’t think to ask.
In the midst of the depression
We got along with what we had.
We found our fun on Halloween
And it was not all bad.
poem 2 for paula's challenge
Copyright © Joyce Johnson | Year Posted 2010
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