An old work revisited, this one published in my chapbook "Starry skies and Moonlit heavens" in 2002

See the darkness falling down
scary monsters all around
leaves of red and gold and brown
rustle, swishing, eerie sounds.

Pumpkins grinning toothless smiles
children laughing walking miles
candy bowls with chocolate piles
on the stoops and on the stiles.

Parents watching babies walk
to a strangers house they stalk
costumes dragging getting caught
painted faces, horror mocked.

Witches, ghosts, cowboys, queens
neighborhoods are full of screams
and the night is full of dreams
moonlight through the tree limbs gleams.

Now its late the children leave
to their homes their bounty seized
tired eyes long for sleep
and soon are in a slumber deep.

In the night the demons creep
under moonlight shades so deep.
Monsters with white and gleaming teeth
now roam the lawns on hoofed feet.

They own the shadows and the gloom
they shun the clear bright light of noon
their growls are soft and they will soon
lift their howls up to the moon.

Children slumber in their beds
with dreams of monsters in their heads
sending shivers and twinge of dread
until the darkling hours have sped

With the light the witches flee
goblins, trolls, and demons see
the morning sun with golden gleams
they fade to mist, float to sea.

Goodbye for now, we know that later
when daylight dims and light gets fainter
the shadows again will shift and waver
dark forms will come that night does favor.

Thus every year on Halloween
children honor those who live unseen.