she was a ramshackle, eyesore of a house
Uneven, unsymmetrical, with a plethora of problems
One bright red door made the rest of this mess glaringly sad
And yet, there was a whimsical feeling about this place
Something uplifting, exciting, and promising
my soul felt this as my mind was scrambling to figure out why
She was an unorthodox, maniacal, ramshackle of a place
looked like a haunted house, but in daylight without scariness
Sure, she needed paint, but she had smack dabs of character
She felt inviting, even though her roof was disintegrating
In some way I was drawn in, kind of loving this eyesore of a house.
I live under the bed
Sleep with the “dust kittens”
I guess I appear scary
To the children
When they catch a glimpse of me.
Not my fault!!
Every time I come out
From under the bed
The “dust Kittens”
Come along with me
making me look
large and unshapely.
I have a simple request:
“please clean under the bed”
That will take care of the “dust kittens”
And, I hope, my scariness.
Oh, and kindly use a soft mop
Those brooms hurt.
John G. Lawless
©5/10/2023
a giant genuine gargoyle greets you said the gothic cathedral host.
as if this terrifying statue of scariness is a good thing of which to boast.
the kindergarteners were screaming as they got off the tour bus.
it took weeks for us to simmer them down, me and my teacher pal Gus.
never again we told the principal, we will not take anyone five.
they were frightened to death, thinking they might not leave alive.
The faces of parents revealed not a worry; not a care.
Kids walked alone, not for tricks, but for treats.
No child was worried about the candy eats.
All that mattered was that the candy was sweet.
And always with respect, the kids did greet.
Before I proceed further, I must hasten to
tell you that this night was unlike any other.
It was one uneasy and scary Halloween;
One with a different kind of scariness.
There were no razors or pins to be found in the candy.
Nor were there any deadly or toxic cookies.
There was a girl dressed like a queen.
Every policeman on the streets was a rookie.
No weird dresses or funny faces on anyone.
And there was a boy dressed like a king.
By comparison, every Halloween prior was a nightmare.
None were dressed in black. No super surprises.
Every child was accounted for, and none was missing.
Not one parent was found weeping in sadness;
But scores of parents were crying for pure joy.
No one was deceived, nor was anyone bereaved.
By comparison to every prior Halloween, this was a dream.
For children and parents everywhere, a night like this was due.
This Halloween was scary because it was too good to be true.
101222PS
It came in with a flash
Lighting up the Sahara Desert
Most of my troop was asleep
I had a precognitive feeling
Sat up and starred to the east
My pal Hal’s mouth was loudly snoring
Space travelers came toward me
Riding strange unknown fast-paced animals
I had never seen anything like it
Travelers with oddities too unusual to explain
I stared at them, open mouthed
Are you from outer space? I wondered.
The night stars’ glow enhanced their scariness
I was petrified and began to shake.
A forklike thing paralyzed me.
When I awoke they were gone
But my knee had a prong mark.
It was much more than a dream.
Polite ghosts pinned on a clothesline,
Dancing daintily in the breeze.
Using please and thank you
Practicing manners with much ease
Respecting each other’s ideas
Without a bully or a tease,
They plan their class reunion,
Putting their scariness on freeze
All that ever remains
Nothing more than simply a self to be
If even time is never the same
Simply nothing more is a self to see
And I’m to experience
A misfit amongst body and soul
Sharing within... the distance
With neither to ever fit my misfit role
Perhaps a devil within
Perhaps a devil without
Perhaps a god therein
Simply a me... never to be proud
Never too far, ever too near
Ever in question, never an answer
A scariness with never the fear
Perhaps a never more... yet ever lesser
What is to remain?
Nothing more then simply a self to be
Time... never to be forever the same
Myself... am not forever to see
Come to me by moonlight on All Hallow's Eve
rise up from the grave and let your spirit raise
coat me with frost breath, sing to me your boos
I am hungry for the past days of scariness and fools.
Come to me at the graveyard, soar above the marble
whisper to me of your life and loves, don't wait
for your proper turn, don't lie lonesome beneath dirt.
There's an ear for every sorrow and a promise of corn
if on All Hallow's Eve you find your way to my side.
There we'll drink spiced wine and toast past days
when bodies were a hindrance and our emotions raged
we'll wonder about starlight and planet scapes
and talk to three a.m, if you come to me at midnight
and touch my spirit to yours. The clock will tick as count
the oaks will zither a tune, the lowing cows and rats
rustle will speak of night's safety and an alternate way.
Tell me of your curtains, the end of your way of life,
tell me of your children, the last of your family line,
tell me of your lover's kiss, the last treasure you held
before you wandered free of the earth's reach
every all Hallow's Eve, every chance you were freed
and if you are lonesome or traveling a new domain.
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