a visit from Mister Poe
who knows
and
what if everyone should know
I’ve only confessed to God
and so might not bear
the forgiveness
from people
and should they bear scorn in their eyes
and
their subtle rejections
even as detectives
met
happily
while the perpetrator of the crime
heard his own heart
though was
certain it beat from his victim
within the floorboards
beneath them all
and could he not bear a moment longer
unopened in himself
and so cried
confessing
all by terror as the means
rather
than a priestly person
so the ghost of the one he killed
pressed on him
worse than a would-be pardoner’s
supplication
or the black
cat
who wailed behind the wall
in this case
supplanting by revealing
sin
and murder
and so these stories go
of exposure should
the sinner
try to hide
from the world whose implication
must
be to expose
c l couch
for Hallowe’en and other Gothic times
photo by Sonny Mauricio on Unsplash
Teal Pumpkin
(to make the scene-y)
A week from now
(Thursday this
year)
Is
Hallowe’en
So we may get
Hallowe’en-y
Remember
To turn off your porch
For
Treats
Or be considered
(either way
most
likely)
A Hallow-meanie
Such being the culture
In the USA
Even as spirits and
Mortality
Live with each other closely
In
Such a time
As it were
Betwixt and between-y
C L Couch
Photo by Parrish Freeman on Unsplash
Teal Pumpkin Project - FoodAllergy.org
Learn how to make Halloween safer and more inclusive for kids with food allergies by offering non-food treats. Join the Teal Pumpkin Project and add your address to the map, or show …
(easy search for this)
have an orange happy
what do I know
of cooking for the season
cumin this
or turmeric
that
I like the smell of cinnamon
and clove
well enough
really
I’m in it for
the pumpkin shapes on windows
and some of the
really-not-so eldritch lights
at night
and then
in a month or so
the tricks and
treats
and really
at a certain age
or maybe anytime
doesn’t excessive chocolate
comprise both
parts of
that costumed greeting
though we
can say
it’s only one time of year
except for Christmas
(even
secularly)
and all the other times
the justifications
so maybe stick
with pumpkin images
in windows
and the eerie lights at night
and
moderate the rest
and yet
have a pleasing
a cool
if possible
(in the night
running for treats
mind you
safely)
happy regarding
and regardless
Hallowe’en
c l couch
get chocolate, it’s a treat; eat too much chocolate, it’s a trick
don’t feed chocolate to your dogs
photo by Mitchell Bowser on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
two offerings, second poem for Hallowe’en
x
x
Amnesiacal
x
It’s funny
How willing
I am
To start a new day
As if in part
I’m starting over
And I take the day well
The dawning
The rising
Making coffee
With whatever
Or nothing else
(cold water)
And the world comes in
In not so welcome ways
And I am here
Again
Struggling
With everything
Appreciating
Too
Some better things
And will the day progress
Or step back
Will the pains prevail
Or hope
I’ll be ahead somehow
By evening
x
x
(Not Unlike) The War of the Worlds
x
for Hallowe’en
x
I don’t know
Have a pleasant day
And night
If in costume
Moving through the chilly air
Or swiping
The candy from the bowl
While warm inside
x
And if you don’t play
Don’t worry
You don’t have to
By conviction
Or convenience
There is no requirement
Keep the porch light
Off
x
And as for Devil’s Night
Or Mischief Night
That’s why the costumes
And the candy
Were invented
In this culture
Maybe yours
While the mischief
And the devil
They are petty crimes
With which
You should not have to deal
x
Enjoy the day
And night
By watching scary movies
Not too gross
And with a story
That might interest
x
Have some fun
If you will
Within the borders
Of what’s fun
Even
Many children know
That the childish fear
Today
Tonight
Is fun
x
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Jarrod Reed on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Autumnal Triduum
x
Tomorrow is All Saints
The day after All Souls
One day celebrates
Those of us alive
The other celebrates
Those who have died
On the latter day,
There will be picnics
By bright gravesides
Special foods
Candies in the shapes of skulls
We’ll visit with our
Relatives gone on
Come back ironically
And joyfully
To check on mortals,
How we’re getting on
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Pieter van de Sande on Unsplash
Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Verenigde Staten
x
(x = space)
x
x
Mischief Day
x
So far, it’s been
A disorienting day
When I just miss the counter’s edge
Or don’t
When I spill something
Then spill it again
When I can’t keep a lock
Out of my eye
x
I imagine I’ll be stubbing toes
Missing the finale
Locating many things
But what I need
Tomorrow will be Hallowe’en
Maybe the veils are thinning out already
And someone let
The imps through first
x
C L Couch
x
x
When we grew up, there was Devil’s Night, the night before Hallowe’en. I understand it’s Mischief Night as well.
x
x
(x = space)
x
x
Bump
x
In a week is Hallowe’en
Let’s reach up
Take down the ghosts
x
Dust the sheets
Sew a few stitches
Here and there
x
This is the time
When ghosts of the past
Year-round
x
We know the kind
Deserve some sublimation
For the humanly
x
Storied things
Chased with chocolate
Chasers
x
While fun
Is fright
All pathologies aside
x
Mars is not invading
If you think so,
Happy Hallowe’en
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Patrick Perkins on Unsplash
San Francisco 2020, after the Labor Day fires.
x
Witchening Hour
When it’s the midnight hour
On Hallowe’en
Nothing, it’s simply the start of
Another hour
I want witches to appear
And magic manifest
Strange lights and an open doorway
Never there before
An hour for the ghosts to dance
While all of us in costume now
Unmask
The thinness torn
Between two worlds
Maybe mortal folk can
Sashay with the eldritch
The thing is that
It might not be terrifying
Simply extraordinary
Occult as in unknown alone
Conjuring an honest gathering
For all of us
To bear an hour
C L Couch
Image by joseph_Berardi from Pixabay
Scream Seam
‘Tis the season Hallowe’en
Things heard and seldom seen
Scared-er I have never been
All these spirits, in between
C L Couch
By John – https://www.flickr.com/photos/flashlamp/229377759/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1117448
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