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.
A Father’s Hallowe’en message.
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 today, I thought I’d write a little poem to celebrate it. We don’t do as much for Halloween in the U.K. as the people of the US do, but it’s beginning to creep in here. This year I’ve noticed a few people have decorated their houses.
Halloween
Witches gather their broomsticks Putting on pointy hats. Devils creep out from hell As spiders build their webs. Ghosts walk the streets And skeletons leave their graves Jack O’Lanterns grin With fiery eyes that glow
A cold wind blows the leaves As we shiver in our homes. The darkness seems to creep Beneath the gap below the door. Ghostly sounds are heard. And the doorbell rings We huddle together in fear. What horrors await outside?
We creep towards the door And open it with care. The ghosts and skeletons jump Towards us with a screech. The witches cackle loudly, Jack O’Lantern held up high. Then come the words we know
This is a new poem, but if you enjoyed it and would like to read more. simply click on the image in the side bar.
Currently, Next Chapter, my publisher, has discounts for people who buy 2 or more books in a series from Google Play Store
2 books: 20% discount
3 books: 30% discount
4 or more books: 40% discount
No coupon code is needed for these discounts: all customers who find Next Chapter books in the Google Play Store are able to use these discounts (as long as they buy 2 or more books in any one series at the same time).
Here’s a link to my One Poem a Day series if you are interested.
I’m a bit late posting this, I know, but Halloween hasn’t gone yet. In fact it’s tonight the ‘ghoulies and ghosties and long legged beasties’ (to quote Robbie Burns) are active.
I thought I’d post one of my Halloween poems, so here it is.
Samhain
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.
I wrote this after doing research for Vengeance of a Slave. The Celtic people believed the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead were thin on this particular night, and the dead, and other spirits could pass through.
Many of these spirits were friendly: our loved ones, gone before. The people set a place at the table for their dead relatives.
But the thin veil also allowed evil spirits to pass, and they needed to be guarded against. They shunned the light, and so that is why the people built bonfires. There may have been sacrifices at this time, to appease the gods, too.
People put out their fires and took a brand from the bonfire to re-light them for a prosperous year.
This has passed from then to today. We, in Britain, have bonfires on November 5th (which may have been the actual date of Samhain. It is thought it was celebrated midway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice.)
Our modern use of lit pumpkins comes from the candles people put in their windows to frighten away the evil spirits, who hated the light.
I hope you enjoyed my poem. Please leave a comment in the box.
I am doing Nanowrimo this year. I didn’t do it last year, but thought I’d have another go this time.
For those of you who aren’t writers, Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month), is held every November. It is now an international thing, and many writers take part from all over the world. The challenge is to write 50,000 words in the 30 days of November. (50,000 words is the lowest number of words for a novel.)
As a result of my entry, I will be taking a break from my weekly blog in order to attempt to meet the challenge. This doesn’t mean there won’t be any posts. I might well reblog someone else’s, and also I’ll probably pop in to give you a breakdown of my progress–or lack of it!
See you all in December!
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Dragons Rule OK. V.M.Sang (author) 