For Halloween, enjoy this lyrical poem that will be included in my seasonal horror poetry collection, A Nightmare for All Seasons, which comes out next year.

HALLOWEEN PARADE

Days growing shorter
Darker the skies
Harvest the fields
Cooler breeze nights
Pumpkin spice cider
Hot apple pies
Leaves tumble by
Flickering lights

What is that scent
That floats on the wind?
What is that rumble
over the road?
We’ve waited all year
For them to return
We’ve waited all year
As the fortune teller foretold

The time has come
For the Halloween Parade
Everyone gather round
For the Halloween Parade
Our town bearing signs
That our children have made
Three more cheers now
For the Halloween Parade

Dancing brown grass
Golden leaves awhirl
Honey-roasted caramel
Cherry-lime swirl
Jack-o’-lantern here
Candied orange curl
For every good boy
And every good girl

How we have waited
For this celebration day
How we have yearned
For innocent little joys
Whether that comes from
Dancing pantomime clowns
From dazzling sequins
Or dark wicked play

The time has come
For the Halloween Parade
Bring your family down
For the Halloween Parade
The corn has been mazed
The gravestones all laid
Three more cheers now
For the Halloween Parade

Ghostly ghouls
Spirit trails
Haunted houses
Werewolf tails
Vampire grins
Mourning veils
Creepy songs
Eerie wails

Haven’t we suffered
Enough in this town?
Haven’t we had enough
Grief, pain, and sorrow?
When they come here
With their glamor and lights
We can pretend that
There is no more tomorrow

The time has come
For the Halloween Parade
Angels and demons come round
For the Halloween Parade
The contracts are signed
And the debts are all paid
Three more cheers now
For the Halloween Parade

Yes, the time has come
For the Halloween Parade
All restraints come unbound
For the Halloween Parade
Remember the warnings
Your old friends have said
Three more cheers now
For the Halloween Parade