October 31

     Our gap-toothed pumpkin face is carved and lit
And witches' squadrons ride our window pane
While vampires, devils, ghouls, in counterfeit,
Seek treats or trickery at our door again
     My children hold me tightly by the hand
As I escort their Halloween debut
And shrink from every boisterous beggars' band
Because they fear their trumpery is true
     So I explain and soothe and hold them close
And tell them all is clever-made deceit--
Each Frankenstein a playmate grandiose
Each ghost, a neighbor child wound in a sheet
      But yet--a sound, a touch, a shadow--hark!
      I look behind my shoulder in the dark