Boo Humbug Poem by B. V. Dahlen

'Who's there? , ' I demand of those noises outside.
I couldn't determine if I needed to hide,

Or answer the door to the ghouls on my stoop,
Who crouch there and hunker...an ominous group.

With trembling hands and jittery stance
I cower a bit and then peeking a glance

Through the curtains. I peer at the creatures who loom,
And notice the one on the side bears a broom,

And one right beside her has horns and a tail,
So I clutch my bowl closer and slowly exhale.

I turn the cold knob, crack the door just a bit
Wishing so much I'd screwed in a bulb to emit

A much brighter light so the shadows would flee,
So that I could see them just as they could see me.

'Now who do we have here? ', I queried the crew,
As I tried to detect just one face that I knew,

But hollowed eye masks just stood peering at me,
And stared. My knees trembled and not prettily

'Would you all like some candy? ', I questioned the corps,
And held out my bowl hoping for some rapport

With these nocturnal creatures who lingered so mute,
Still wishing that my house hadn't been on their route

Of foraging on this most hallowed of eves
When the wind whirled the fallen and crinkling leaves

Into forms that compounded my increasing fright,
And I wished that I'd gone anywhere else on that night,

But I hadn't, so snatching the courage I lack,
And with quivering hands filled each mutely held sack.

Not a 'Thank You' was voiced as they turned to retreat,
And I watched them continue their trek up my street,

Beleaguering some other fool on their path
With malicious intent and unspoken wrath

Holding older folks hostage for a sugary bite
These tiny marauders each Halloween night.