I haven’t been writing much lately, so I turned to a Halloween-themed poem that I previously shared here. Sadly, the state of our world seems even more dire than when I wrote this poem in 2017. I made some minor revisions to the final two stanzas to focus on more current woes. Unfortunately, many of the original ones remain. Scary, indeed.
Halloween Summoning
I summon ye, spirits and spooks and sprites
and tip-tapping branches on moonless nights
Arise headless horseman and grisly ghouls
and bleak haunted houses where terror rules
Awaken ye witches, ye wizards and djinns
and mad-grinning pumpkins aglow from within
Come forth ye black cats and specters and crows
and clink-clanking chains from dank caverns below
I summon ye, yearning for simpler days
when you were the frightening things on parade
when you were the terrors that filled up my head
that kept me awake and that filled me with dread.
Rise spectors! Rise phantoms! Rise foul-smelling fiends!
Come, take back the night from our nightmarish dreams
Come, banish the darkness, the stygian gloom
the madmen now flirting with chaos and doom
and whipping up festering cauldrons of hate.
Come vanquish these forces before it’s too late.
I’d rather face phantoms about at all hours
than criminal leaders who hunger for power,
vanishing glaciers, electoral threats
pollution, pandemic and civil unrest
And mad spinning storms of apocalypse size
and “leaders” who bully and taunt and despise.
So, rise all ye spirits of Halloween night!
Come harrow us all to your black hearts’ delight!
Treat us to hauntings, and foul apparitions
Bedevil our sleep–it’s no imposition!
Tis better by far to have monsters aprowl
than the man-made disasters that torture us now.
©Molly Hogan
This week’s Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by the one and only Linda Baie at her wonderful blog, TeacherDance. Be sure to stop by and check out this week’s poetic offerings, spooky and otherwise!
Nix the comfort zone 
Love it, Molly!! I know it’s stress-induced, but it’s so perfect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Tabatha! This gloomy poem feels like a ghost from the past that has remained into the present and will hopefully vanish in the future.
LikeLike
I’m glad you re-posted & made it for our times now. We did not realize in 2017 how terrible it could be. I do love how you’ve brought it to “now”, Molly, sad it is so, but supporting your words: “Tis better by far to have monsters aprowl
than the man-made disasters that torture us now.” I agree so very much! And I’m crossing fingers, toes & anything else I can for better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d opt for a ghost or two over some of our current choices!
LikeLike
Wonderful to see this again and still so true! Cheryl
On Fri, Oct 30, 2020 at 6:22 AM Nix the comfort zone wrote:
> mbhmaine posted: ” I haven’t been writing much lately, so I turned to a > Halloween-themed poem that I previously shared here. Sadly, the state of > our world seems even more dire than when I wrote this poem in 2017. I made > some minor revisions to the final two stanzas” >
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Cheryl! Hope you enjoyed Halloween with the kids!
LikeLike
*thunderous applause* So well done, thanks for this rousing, seasonal, and timely poem!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jama!
LikeLike
I’d love to hear this read aloud, with that creepy kind of “Monster Mash” voice. Yes, indeed, it is still pertinent. Sadly, there are still “vanishing glaciers, electoral threats
pollution, pandemic and civil unrest” Have a happy, fun-filled Halloween.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to read this one aloud a lot as I wrote it.
LikeLike
I agree with Margaret. This poem would be a great read aloud. How about for adults before entering the polling booths? Here Ye! Hear Ye!
Come, banish the darkness, the stygian gloom
the madmen now flirting with chaos and doom
and whipping up festering cauldrons of hate.
Come vanquish these forces before it’s too late.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! I hadn’t considered how apt that part would be as one entered the polls. I’ve done my part to vanquish the forces. Fingers crossed!
LikeLike
Love how the rhythm of this spell draws me in. I had a tough time getting into the spirit this year. All I want is a new leader so we can begin to set things right. It’s going to take so much work. I’ll take this spell and mumble it throughout my day today. Between the spectors and the sprites, something has to shake loose. Thanks, Molly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fingers crossed!
LikeLike
Yes, truly scary. Wishing for better days.
Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
You and me both, Ruth!
LikeLike
Sometimes all we can do is howl at the moon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s quite a chorus out there right now!
LikeLike
Man mad disasters torturing us now–Indeed. So much to think about this Halloween night.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Terrific poem, Molly. And yes, the ghoulishness in the news is so much more frightening than any Halloween hauntings. Fingers-crossed for a return to sanity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Buffy! Fingers and toes crossed here!
LikeLike