On Halloween Night

I hear the October winds whispering and I think it knows, as the witching hour arrives and a harvest moon glows, only once a year, do we celebrate death on Halloween night, it is a time for remembrance, and not a time for fright. As dead leaves come to life, once more, somehow they know, on the twisted claw-like branches, I see the excitement grow, black bats take their flight and wise owls call out to you, it seems strange, but I imagine that they all know, too. I ask you now, my dearly departed ancestors, to arise, come and dance with me, there is no need for disguise, on this one dark, Halloween night, it is the only time, when we can feel truly alive and so morbidly sublime. Let me wipe away the ancient moss from your tombstone, come forth with dust and decay, your shroud and bone, feel the warm glow from this carved out jack o' lantern, and watch his lit, grinning soul, may it flicker and burn. You must still remember the candy corn's sweet flavor, and those crisp apples, with juicy bite after bite to savor, it is only on this night when we can taste this rare treat, and it is only on this Halloween night when we can meet. Tonight will not be your usual haunting among the graves, or beneath the dead willow tree, weeping, shackled like slaves, you are free to wander, to celebrate, and honor our past, until the morning sun rises, on this Eve that will not last. So come with me now and our spirits will live once more, as we roam down our old streets, and visit door to door, let us go, and lead them all in our mysterious nighttime parade, where we can finally be ourselves, no need for a masquerade.