HALLOWEEN NIGHT

It is Halloween night.
As goblins and hags
We go trick or treating
To fill our bags.

The night is chilly
But we don’t care.
We scare each other.
Tonight all is fair.

And when it is over –
It’s been a long night –
My room looks inviting:
What welcome sight.

The chest of drawers,
Night table and clock,
The coat stand with hat,
And father’s long frock.

The half-open window,
My warm, cozy bed.
I say my prayers
And lay down my head.

My mom tucks me in
And bids me good-night.
She gives me a kiss
And turns off the light.

The room’s pitched in darkness.
There’s just the moon:
Behind the window
A ghostly balloon.

The wind whispers hollow.
The curtains billow.
I press my head
Way down in my pillow.

For just as I thought
Like the night before
An apparition
Stands by the door.

There’s no doubt about it,
But what I fear most
Is the fact that that thing
Really might be a ghost.

Too frightened to move
I stare towards the door.
The thing is still beckoning
And sways like before.

I quickly get up
To switch on the lamp.
I’m terrified.
My hand is damp.

I just stubbed my toes.
It’s going to catch me.
Oh, nonsense.
Here goes.

And the thing disappears
As I turn on the light.
And right where it stood
Is the coat stand alright.

Or am I mistaken?
The room’s dark once more
And once again
I advance to the door.

I almost jump back
Till I feel father’s frock.
The wind lifts a sleeve.
It is twelve of the clock.

I’m so happy I skip,
Almost stumble and fall.
So it’s only the coat stand,
After all.

And Halloween’s over.
There’s nothing to fear.
There’s no ghost or goblin
Till same time next year.

1984