Darkness creeps
Fear seeps
Human sleeps
Spirit sneaks.
Graves reopen
Dead awoken
Tombs are broken
Terror unspoken.
Ghosts do ride
Far and wide
Those who died
Will not hide.
Stay in bed
Shun the dead
This night of dread
Till dark has fled.
If you liked my poems, this one comes from the book, From July to December. One Poem a Day, Book 2. You can buy it by clicking on the book cover in the sidebar.
Don’t go near the graveyard, darling.
Samhain is tonight.
Don’t go near the graveyard, darling.
The dead will walk this night.
Keep your candle burning, darling.
Keep it glowing bright.
Keep your candle burning darling.
Be sure it gives you light.
The bonfires have been lit, darling.
To fill the dark with light.
The bonfires have been lit, darling.
Their flames reach such a height.
Put your home fire out, darling.
Be sure to do it right.
Put your home fire out, darling.
From bonfires we’ll re-light.
Put food by the door, darling.
Leave it in plain sight.
Put food by the door, darling,
For our dead to have a bite.
Do not be afraid, darling.
They see that we’re alright.
Do not be afraid, darling.
No harm from them tonight.
But evil spirits come, darling.
We must put them to flight.
But evil spirits come, darling.
Them we must try to fight.
Go and watch the bonfires, darling.
Stand in their bright light.
Go and watch the bonfires, darling
To keep us safe this night.
This is another poem from Miscellaneous Thoughts. The book contains poems of a variety of kinds and of different themes. Click on the image in the sidebar to go to your favourite online store.
The moon has hidden her face tonight
Turned away from the Earth.
The clouds are scurrying away in fright
From what the night may give birth,
For tonight the veil is thin.
The wind is blowing the leaves around.
They hide in crannies and nooks.
Cowering, shivering, hope not to be found
By phantoms, ghosts and spooks,
For tonight the veil may tear.
Build a bonfire, create some light.
The spirits are afraid.
They like the shadows, shun what’s bright
And lurk within the shade
For tonight they cross the veil.
Ghouls and spectres, wraiths and shades
Return to Earth tonight.
We’re filled with dread as daylight fades.
The smallest sound will give us fright
For tonight the veil has gone.
If you like my poems, please comment in the comments box. This and the other poems can be found in my poetry book, Miscellaneous Thoughts. You can buy it by clicking on the highlighted text or the book cover in the sidebar.
There were several festivals that were held by the ancient pagan Celts, one of which was Samhain (pronounced Sowain). In order to wean them away from their pagan worship, Pope Gregory III, in the 8th Century, established November 1st, which had been the pagan New Year, as All Saints’ Day, and November 2nd as All Souls’ Day (all those Christians who had died unknown).
Thus there was a link to Samhain because it was thought by the pagan people that the dead could return to their old homes to visit their descendants. Sometimes an extra place was set at the table and food left for them.
They also believed that devils, demons and the like could also come, and so they lit bonfires to scare them away. (UK residents note that we have a remnant of those bonfires on November 5th.)
This poem references the thought that our dead loved ones can visit us on this night.
This poem refers to my father who died when I was just three years old.
I Died.
I didn’t want to go.
I left my wife and daughter so
I cried.
I thought
I could no longer see
All their future without me.
I fought.
I found
That each All Hallows Eve,
I could return—I need not grieve.
Not bound.
I come
To them each Hallowe’en.
They do not know. I am not seen.
I’m dumb.
They live
And I surround them both
With all my love. I am not loath
To give.
Here ends my tale.
I will be filled with endless glee
When they come to dwell with me
Beyond the veil.
As it’s Halloween week, I thought I’d post a few of my Halloween poems. I’m going to post one each day until Halloween itself.
The wind it blows cold.
Like ice down my back.
I try to be bold,
But courage I lack.
In the haunted house.
It seemed such a lark
When we set off tonight.
But now it’s gone dark
And we shiver with fright
In the haunted house.
Jane said. ‘We’ll have fun
On Hallowe’en night.’
But when slow footsteps come
She screams out in fright
In the haunted house.
‘Let’s take candles,’ said Pete.
‘More authentic for light.
And something to eat
If we’re staying all night
In the haunted house.’
Jack thinks it’s a game
Till the candles blow out.
Not one single flame.
He gave a loud shout
In the haunted house.
The temperature sinks.
‘That means ghosts are here,’
Said Pete, who still thinks
There’s nothing to fear
In the haunted house.
The door starts to creak.
It opens so slow.
Our knees have gone weak.
I wish we could go
From the haunted house.
But nothing is there
As we huddle in fear.
Not one of us dare
To get up and peer
In the haunted house.
All night there are groans.
We hear footsteps, we swear,
And the rattle of bones.
Something is there
In the haunted house.
We laugh at our fear
As we make our way home.
In daylight it’s clear
No spirits do roam
In the haunted house.
The noises we heard?
Just the sounds of a house
Cooling down, and a bird
Not one single ghost
In the haunted house.
Do you celebrate Halloween? How do you celebrate?
Tonight is Halloween. This is an ancient festival that we have adapted to our own times. This poem harks back to those times when people really believed that the spirits of the dead could return to Earth, including demons and other malevolent creatures.
The moon has hidden her face tonight
Turned away from the Earth.
The clouds are scurrying away in fright
From what the night may give birth,
For tonight the veil is thin.
The wind is blowing the leaves around.
They hide in crannies and nooks.
Cowering, shivering, hope not to be found
By phantoms, ghosts and spooks,
For tonight the veil may tear.
Build a bonfire, create some light.
The spirits are afraid.
They like the shadows, shun what’s bright
And lurk within the shade
For tonight they cross the veil.
Ghouls and spectres, wraiths and shades
Return to Earth tonight.
We’re filled with dread as daylight fades.
The smallest sound will give us fright
For tonight the veil has gone.
This poem appears in my poetry book, Miscellaneous Thoughts. It is available in your favourite store, as ebook, or ‘real’ book.
There are more Halloween poems there as well as others from the various seasons, the countries of the UK, limericks, Haiku and many other things.
Most of my poetry is rhyming poems, so if you enjoy that kind of poetry, you will probably enjoy my poems.
Did you like my poem? All comments will be read and answered. Add yours in the comments box.
When the Hallowe’en Poetry Contest arrived once more, I was stuck for ideas, having done it for the last 4 years. I needed inspiration.
I didn’t want to go down the ‘isn’t it a fun holiday’ route because I don’t think it is. It’s All Hallows Eve, the night before All Saints’ Day when the Christian Church celebrates all the saints who have died before.
It’s also Samhain, when the pre-Christian religion celebrated their ancestors and welcomed them into their homes.
My father died when I was very small. I only have a few vague memories of him, and so I decided to write a poem thinking of him, and, if the pre-Christians are right, he would come to visit me every year.
I hope you enjoy this. I know it’s a bit late for Hallowe’en, but never mind!
I Died.
I didn’t want to go.
I left my wife and daughter so
I cried.
I thought
I could no longer see
All their future without me.
I fought.
I found
That each All Hallows Eve,
I could return—I need not grieve.
Not bound.
I come
To them each Hallowe’en.
They do not know. I am not seen.
I’m dumb.
They live
And I surround them both
With all my love which I’m not loath
To give.
Here ends my tale.
I will be filled with endless glee
When they come to dwell with me
Beyond the veil.
First of all, may I apologise for the lateness of this post. I got back from holiday on Sunday at 10pm and had everything to do on Monday, including looking after my grandchildren in the afternoon. I probably should have scheduled it, but I thought I’d have time. Silly me!
Anyway, I’ve just entered the following poem into a Halloween Poetry Competition. I thought you’d like to have a look at it.
Hallowe’en
The moon has hidden her face tonight
Turned away from the Earth.
The clouds are scurrying away in fright
From what the night may give birth,
For tonight the veil is thin.
The wind is blowing the leaves around.
They hide in crannies and nooks.
Cowering, shivering, hope not to be found
By phantoms, ghosts and spooks,
For tonight the veil may tear.
Build a bonfire, create some light.
The spirits are afraid.
They like the shadows, shun what’s bright
And lurk within the shade
For tonight they cross the veil.
Ghouls and spectres, wraiths and shades
Return to Earth tonight.
We’re filled with dread as daylight fades.
The smallest sound will give us fright
For tonight the veil has gone.
I would be interested in what you think of my effort. Please leave a comment, or sign up to my email list.
Dragons Rule OK. V.M.Sang (author) 