All Hallows Eve

Cherry

By marandina

Fri, 28 Oct 2022
  • 1164 reads
13 comments
 

Audio version at: https://soundcloud.com/user-62051685/all-hallows-eve-mp3

 

All Hallows Eve

A cacophony of clocks striking,

mordant midnight memories,

tallow candles lit, flickering,

whispers and silent prayers.

 

Cantaloupe pumpkins grin,

Jack O’lanterns aflame inside,

liminal incandescence of

sanguine, bonfire light.

 

Church bells ringing, peeling,

sound-echoes for the sacred,

holy martyrs and saints,

remembrance of the Dead. 

 

Thin veil betwixt worlds,

chanted Celtic incantations,

witches scry after twilight,

spells cast in mystic ether.

 

Dance Macabre of bones,

spirits appear in mirrors,

ghosts roam this earth,

seeking spiritual redemption.

 

Moss-covered tombstones,

epitaphs obscured by lichen,

Purgatory awaits fresh souls,

until dawn returns again.

 

Image free to use via WikiCommons at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween#/media/File:Halloween_Sweden.png

Certificate PG
Poem
Miscellaneous Poems
Spiritual

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

Purgatory awaits fresh souls. That's what I too was told. You capture the fear, awe and excitement.  

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, CM. I do love this time of year. "Fear, awe and excitement" neatly sums it up.. 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Wonderfully spooky and taking the reader right into the heart of All Hallows Eve...my favourite time of the year, when we remember. Love this poem Paul.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Jenny. It is a wonderfully, spiritual time at Halloween and the days around it. Magical and dark :) 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Many thanks for the cherries, ABC Eds. Much appreciated. Paul :) 

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Your enthusiasm for halloween shines out from each word! smiley

 

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading. I adore this time of year. I was out walking the other day and looking at rustling blankets of red and gold leaves everywhere. Houses were decorated ready for 31st October. It put me in mind of the original "Halloween" movie from 1978 and the empty streets because John Carpenter couldn't afford to pay for extras. This is a time of year to savour. Paul :) 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I enjoy the time of year, Paul, but for the colours in autumn sunshine, the bonfires, the cosiness of dressing up against the cold and warm homes, but that linked to certainty about the future and the dead and evil, not to enjoy fear and shivers! Rhiannon (Pumpkins can be carved into all sorts of shapes to shine light, not just grotesque!)

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Rhiannon. It's a wonderful time of year for all the reasons you mention. I think turnips pre-date pumpkins for Halloween carving. Paul :) 

 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-people-carved-turnips-ins...).

 

 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Where would I be without your atmospheric poems to remind me of important dates? I liked your chanty rhythm where every syllable stands out as if stark in the strange light

 

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading, Di. The almanac rumbles on. I do love this time of year; a time when there is a collective effort to connect with the Departed. They are with us always. And the transition to winter months. Paul 

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

A dark and shivering poem; I loved it!...all things spooky and otherwordly, perfect for Halloween. I love this holiday; thoughts of the unknown and hope those we love are not lost to us, plus all the decorations and spooky good fun. And now I'm just in the mood to watch "Hocus Pocus" and  "Bell Book and Candle" smiley HAPPY HALLOWEEN PAUL!

Penny4athought

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading it, Penny. Happy Halloween, for sure. Paul :)