Goblins on the doorstep,

Phantoms in the air,

Owls on witches’ gateposts

Giving stare for stare,

Cats on flying broomsticks,

Bats against the moon

Stirrings round of fate-cakes

with a solemn spoon,

Whirling apple parings

Figures draped in sheets

Dodging, disappearing,

up and down the streets,

Jack-o-Lanterns grinning

Shadows on a screen,

Shrieks and starts and laughter-

This is Hallowe’en!

- Dorothy Brown Thompson -