David Crandall Poet Rhyme

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9/13/2026 for Autumn's Many Colorful Moons Poetry Contest sponsored by Daniel Henry Rodgers 

Strange Samhain (DHR)

I speak in words and meanings I don't even know - 
a child from a world that existed long ago.
The Druid's say my soul is unhinged and free,
and that I can see what others cannot see. 
Sitting, not alone, one Samhain night, 
no light, no fright, just sight-guided spirit's flight. 
Samhain, the boundary between light and dark -
Summer is abundant, Winter bare and stark.
On this, these seasons' strange dividing line,
earthly mortals and ghosts intertwine.

Will my essence, set sail on another cosmic trip, 
Will the harvest this year be enough?
Tonight, as earthly sensibilities tear and rip,
in your parlance, I'd say, "all bets are off".

Tonight, a briefly opened heavenly portal
connects this Celt from Irish shores in 333 BCE,
allowing communion of the dead and mortal,
you, from the distant future, and li'l ol' me. 

I left my world, hoping I hadn't offended
my ancestors, which would cause me remorse,
wondering, "Will I starve?  Will my time be ended?".
So, I humbly offer up a slaughtered horse.

And yet, having left my ancient shores, 
I find I'm this futuristic 21st century scene,
in the bizarre, machine-made world of yours,
on a night that you call Halloween.

You too, child, may have fallen in this rip in space, 
in the Halloween costume you got from your dad.
Trust me, you don't want to see his face.
So, don't tell him about me.  He'll just get mad.

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Joanna Daniel September 15, 2026 at 11:47 PM Great thought has gone into this one, David, well penned😊 David Crandall September 16, 2026 at 3:00 PM Thanks, Joanna - yep, I had to do some learning!

Andrea Dietrich September 13, 2026 at 10:39 PM Outstanding work, David. Damn good writing. I have yet to even fathom what to write for this contest. I always loved studying the way the ancient Celts felt about that night before their world got darker and darker. You made it come alive with the time travel aspect. David Crandall September 14, 2026 at 6:46 PM Thanks, Andrea! I think Daniel mentioned beyond the familiar Western autumn, and it occurred to me that Samhain is Western, but it wasn't familiar to me, so I think it's OK. I had to research it. I had never even heard of it until I was watching a DVD from the library where it was mentioned a week or two ago.