Cackling old woman*
 

  Skies above are turning from blue to black,
dark clouds moving in not meant for man
or beast.
All young children need a place to hide,
to stay dry, gather their wits, a place to feast.
 

An old woman, hunched over leaning on 
a broom,
quietly observes many children parading past.
The old woman smiles and cackles with
joyous glee,
calling out before she sees the last.
 

"Dear children" she cries, "want to see
my surprise?"
"Made it special for you this Halloween night."
Old woman turns her back, begins to walk in.
"Wait" cry the children, "you gave us an
unpleasant fright."
 

"Come in" says the old woman. "Welcome to my
humble home."
Please take off your coats, make yourself
comfortable.
Find yourself a seat, warm your bodies by
the fire,
while I fix some food and drink, leave it on
the table.

She says, "what are you looking at, why are
you scared?"
"Is it my dress, my shoes, my hat or my hair?"
Why I am no different from you, my clothing
old and worn,
once a year I go out cackling up a storm
with flair.
 

Old woman says, "Now that you are here you
will never get out,
so you might as well eat and drink the rest of
the night."
My caldron is bubbling, ready for incantations,
to rattle your bones and fill you with
unthinkable fright.
 

House starts swaying making eerie rumbling
sounds,
lights begin flickering up and down, all around.
A silence fills the room, hearts beating rapidly,
old creatures of the night coming up from
the ground.
 

Children cry out, "but we want to go home,
our parents will worry and search everywhere."
Old woman keeps cackling, stirring her
witches brew,
knowing the first spell cast made the house
disappear.
 

All of a sudden loud knocks can be heard,
pounding so loud the children close eyes, cover
their ears.
Pounding gets louder, doors begin rattling
and creaking,
children's hearts beating fast, filled with
ghostly fears.
 

Suddenly it all stops, an eerie quiet fills the room,
children stunned, rub their eyes, afraid of what
they might see.
One child opens his eyes, begins tapping
the others,
carefully they look around and commence laughing with glee.
 

Children hear a voice in the distance, one
they recognize.
They are all back in their room, now how can
that be?
Waking up from their nap, hearing Dad say,
"are you all ready to go trick or treating
with me?"

 


Written by:
Karen Palumbo
Photography by:
Robert Palumbo
10/20/2007
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