tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72635019289316127832024-03-13T16:40:45.283-06:00The GallowsDrop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-47497475399047622252012-10-01T00:56:00.001-06:002012-10-01T00:59:06.464-06:00<div style="color: white;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">OCTOBER</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">by Paul Laurence Dunbar </span></b></div>
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October is the treasurer of the year,<br />
And all the months pay bounty to her store;<br />
The fields and orchards still their tribute bear,<br />
And fill her brimming coffers more and more.<br />
But she, with youthful lavishness,<br />
Spends all her wealth in gaudy dress,<br />
And decks herself in garments bold<br />
Of scarlet, purple, red, and gold.</div>
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She heedeth not how swift the hours fly,<br />
But smiles and sings her happy life along;<br />
She only sees above a shining sky;<br />
She only hears the breezes' voice in song.<br />
Her garments trail the woodlands through,<br />
And gather pearls of early dew<br />
That sparkle, till the roguish Sun<br />
Creeps up and steals them every one.</div>
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But what cares she that jewels should be lost,<br />
When all of Nature's bounteous wealth is hers?<br />
Though princely fortunes may have been their cost,<br />
Not one regret her calm demeanor stirs.<br />
Whole-hearted, happy, careless, free,<br />
She lives her life out joyously,<br />
Nor cares when Frost stalks o'er her way<br />
And turns her auburn locks to gray.</div>
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Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-71082234633611060572010-11-21T07:51:00.002-07:002011-02-13T08:43:39.506-07:00Sleepy Hollow : The Tree of the Dead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSxskSs0KJ2oJwIoPpNCatJZN9qtnAFDXvd-7rxHuc5wZ1RH5ak04m5fkwL8zk8gsc4ZFE8PnrUTEyS8bPPlGYDTcxNf45Bj2PpDeuHIF2m2kIPdiajKdKYEg-6mzkypOyNKj_exyUx4/s1600/15+Dead+Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSxskSs0KJ2oJwIoPpNCatJZN9qtnAFDXvd-7rxHuc5wZ1RH5ak04m5fkwL8zk8gsc4ZFE8PnrUTEyS8bPPlGYDTcxNf45Bj2PpDeuHIF2m2kIPdiajKdKYEg-6mzkypOyNKj_exyUx4/s1600/15+Dead+Tree.jpg" /></a></div>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-18324453862624069672010-11-11T08:11:00.000-07:002010-11-11T08:11:08.234-07:00FLATLINERS : BACCHANAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvmF2_wPH9OY4DGFqy3lghMawQk2YoSqPUOtPOWueb153fPfxrd_D5_RSEyhJkMCAXxAJ9WnqDcmVInW7qhTwLQiT45jc-Mm9cUQu6hOvRwVR7wCixBhXQzp6vC7-SPuTQSd_mcj26M0/s1600/Flatliners+Costume+Party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvmF2_wPH9OY4DGFqy3lghMawQk2YoSqPUOtPOWueb153fPfxrd_D5_RSEyhJkMCAXxAJ9WnqDcmVInW7qhTwLQiT45jc-Mm9cUQu6hOvRwVR7wCixBhXQzp6vC7-SPuTQSd_mcj26M0/s1600/Flatliners+Costume+Party.jpg" /></a></div>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-61542474533314938732010-11-11T08:08:00.000-07:002010-11-11T08:08:21.812-07:00ARSENIC AND OLD LACE : JACKO & TOT'S<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-J1ygZkTgyzthgJWBXHTXCyuuSCS5EccKUG0u88wmOIQfDXqwf4buchKOqE97VkbbdFn2a3pDpSKSAwHg4uawhMlBF6kCmhbjQaG24IBsE5PQUP6lnh5tMoNilXFGBu0a7_9DFvEpSw0/s1600/Arsenic+and+Old+Lace+Jacko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-J1ygZkTgyzthgJWBXHTXCyuuSCS5EccKUG0u88wmOIQfDXqwf4buchKOqE97VkbbdFn2a3pDpSKSAwHg4uawhMlBF6kCmhbjQaG24IBsE5PQUP6lnh5tMoNilXFGBu0a7_9DFvEpSw0/s1600/Arsenic+and+Old+Lace+Jacko.jpg" /></a></div>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-89404551083467186252010-11-11T08:06:00.003-07:002010-11-11T08:08:59.507-07:00A & C MEET FRANKENSTEIN : OPENING CREDITS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGzYE_WeE1CEW9fkCWsQMoDhsUHZvmpcR0DfLgraIjpeOsTRXue1CObBQ_QkpQUTHwqoza7LKMtPfIj5XvKKPBWvPw5YmmTrGRTDtvHvSvpDTSqZDzB-PxCE51jWvN24-a2zICiuGgeA/s1600/Abbott-Costello-Silhouettes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGzYE_WeE1CEW9fkCWsQMoDhsUHZvmpcR0DfLgraIjpeOsTRXue1CObBQ_QkpQUTHwqoza7LKMtPfIj5XvKKPBWvPw5YmmTrGRTDtvHvSvpDTSqZDzB-PxCE51jWvN24-a2zICiuGgeA/s1600/Abbott-Costello-Silhouettes.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKN4A0klmreVK3EvPTGSY_NJdD8_wkyE60n1etGdA-jkISomZu3Sla1xcSbr2__CZN0cVPVGSNDMUmGdTAVq32m_R3Bl4Zmiq1NJG7r0fZgik7qeVTePJ3e8pcSA0zcrHDzwg9b11M8o/s1600/Abbott-Costello-Frankenstei.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKN4A0klmreVK3EvPTGSY_NJdD8_wkyE60n1etGdA-jkISomZu3Sla1xcSbr2__CZN0cVPVGSNDMUmGdTAVq32m_R3Bl4Zmiq1NJG7r0fZgik7qeVTePJ3e8pcSA0zcrHDzwg9b11M8o/s1600/Abbott-Costello-Frankenstei.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqSTwznR2e9iAAo0EYbKPqMusCWYM7zclQlh6hENMkvhz_apRGPuYYDLUd1qsDB7siiBV1kSqApIhWoQfOBvlJ6eWoEDS6y-2bvsmJJ81XQJZG3Oofye9uhKX8nu8GGG0d8dd5iM_8ds/s1600/AbbottCostelloSilhouettes02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqSTwznR2e9iAAo0EYbKPqMusCWYM7zclQlh6hENMkvhz_apRGPuYYDLUd1qsDB7siiBV1kSqApIhWoQfOBvlJ6eWoEDS6y-2bvsmJJ81XQJZG3Oofye9uhKX8nu8GGG0d8dd5iM_8ds/s1600/AbbottCostelloSilhouettes02.jpg" /></a></div>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-52070466375469269492010-11-11T08:06:00.002-07:002010-11-11T08:08:38.830-07:00SLEEPY HOLLOW : SCARECROW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAo6xKGQxDOjJ7axy8JOSNxHbGzm76174AR7-m9S6jpRSUnx84k2QYdeQZWqzK9dnhJjePn3fGRgKc6-O4vd_4Kr44_bIbSBOFFXHEsmDVgLzh0ekauk8EKgJVnj9olFOErW39EOR4IQ/s1600/Sleepy-Hollow-Scarecrow-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAo6xKGQxDOjJ7axy8JOSNxHbGzm76174AR7-m9S6jpRSUnx84k2QYdeQZWqzK9dnhJjePn3fGRgKc6-O4vd_4Kr44_bIbSBOFFXHEsmDVgLzh0ekauk8EKgJVnj9olFOErW39EOR4IQ/s1600/Sleepy-Hollow-Scarecrow-03.jpg" /></a></div>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-49102526148869592392010-11-11T08:01:00.001-07:002010-11-11T08:09:12.081-07:00DRACULA : WEBS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3GdEyr0YtEbpnQbfdzSW7MloVvNtIFhl-DSHwQw-9fByYFKi3aIwPMGpm-oMXG-RFqvcQfu1brj9vGubL3iAUguumYOg6mAM6ZJojecTcpvRmyqAnyjOBvR2FFwq7qkpiZk2sq4siTE/s1600/Dracula-Webs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3GdEyr0YtEbpnQbfdzSW7MloVvNtIFhl-DSHwQw-9fByYFKi3aIwPMGpm-oMXG-RFqvcQfu1brj9vGubL3iAUguumYOg6mAM6ZJojecTcpvRmyqAnyjOBvR2FFwq7qkpiZk2sq4siTE/s1600/Dracula-Webs.jpg" /></a></div>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-25455868186836584112010-11-11T08:00:00.001-07:002010-11-11T08:09:28.869-07:00FRANKENSTEIN : DEATH IN THE GRAVEYARD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWO-rVI-TuZeVQF5YA1FE8bU33eXqwDgJ-Ic0i_-HcXSk-A-5fvd8zcSTuXpDxs5uTv8dRrx0yDiifsLWmJzO_VmoNthZFb0aRhyOdGK9Vv2Ozr4GX9JsGf7YYkfvSQys0j8ur9fbzIl0/s1600/Frankenstein-Death-in-the-C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWO-rVI-TuZeVQF5YA1FE8bU33eXqwDgJ-Ic0i_-HcXSk-A-5fvd8zcSTuXpDxs5uTv8dRrx0yDiifsLWmJzO_VmoNthZFb0aRhyOdGK9Vv2Ozr4GX9JsGf7YYkfvSQys0j8ur9fbzIl0/s1600/Frankenstein-Death-in-the-C.jpg" /></a></div>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-7802206456758080272010-11-11T07:57:00.001-07:002010-11-11T08:09:46.626-07:00SLEEPY HOLLOW : PUMPKINHEAD SCARECROW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Lcup2yEEqU3NFvD1bKRDDPLJghpMGZbTyFKvchoPM02PLHp-x1S4ySp3L_-FzCVGCqKCr-At0y8AjComw0KhmOpkWvoPiZt3wysFKi4c87NnNYvSu9f-igv-c65dopECVlissx180eg/s1600/Sleepy-Hollow-Scarecrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Lcup2yEEqU3NFvD1bKRDDPLJghpMGZbTyFKvchoPM02PLHp-x1S4ySp3L_-FzCVGCqKCr-At0y8AjComw0KhmOpkWvoPiZt3wysFKi4c87NnNYvSu9f-igv-c65dopECVlissx180eg/s1600/Sleepy-Hollow-Scarecrow.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFzHW-MuUu9MesDWouR148RnC3UTkDEfh0SITK8RwAZJKLbk-XsyRazgTiJ4uG6o6d15lOXv65fd_NDu7PI15ksbHm-o5j8ZrXD1A_hk03gaKALztlTI4HCQQarYlhyja3iJAu-thh9M/s1600/Sleepy-Hollow-Scarecrow-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFzHW-MuUu9MesDWouR148RnC3UTkDEfh0SITK8RwAZJKLbk-XsyRazgTiJ4uG6o6d15lOXv65fd_NDu7PI15ksbHm-o5j8ZrXD1A_hk03gaKALztlTI4HCQQarYlhyja3iJAu-thh9M/s1600/Sleepy-Hollow-Scarecrow-02.jpg" /></a></div>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-76445076145418166092010-11-02T00:33:00.000-06:002010-11-02T00:33:00.216-06:00<div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>WILL-O'-THE-WISP<br />
by Orville Henry Leonard</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I know that across those mountains</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Lies a country about like this,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And I know that poisoned fountains</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Fringe the way, and the rattlers' hiss</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Is sibilant on that blistering trail,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> And the sand is like the sea,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But the Will-o'-the-Wisp of the desert</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> Is a-beckoning to me.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I know that others both skilled and bold</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Have taken this trail before,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Hunting long for the yellow gold,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Only to come back worn and sore —</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">That is, if they ever came back at all —</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> And though all this I know,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">When the Will-o'-the-Wisp of the desert calls</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> I pack my jack and go.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The cactus grows and flaunts its rose</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Beside the trail my burro takes.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The hot day comes, the hot day goes,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Desert night wind the whole world shakes.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Then a dancing light in the velvet dark</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> Afar on the waste I see,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And I know that the desert Will-o'-the-Wisp</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> Is flashing his light at me.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">His elfin light is of fancy made.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Yet he jeers at me like a clown</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">By flashing scenes of liquid shade</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">On the noon sky, but upside down,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">For he carries slides with his lantern by day</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> To tease me maliciously. </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Though I know he's the Will-o'-the-Wisp, yet I swear</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> That he's holding a cup to me.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">He has no form, he has no face,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">He has only a dancing light</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">To lure me on from place to place —</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">To every place but the right.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Though I stumble and faint and burn with thirst,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> I follow hopefully,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">For the Will-o'-the-Wisp of the desert</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> Is waving his light to me.</span></div>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-33068501074280347642010-11-01T01:55:00.006-06:002011-02-16T16:37:49.133-07:00HALLOWEEN AT THE GALLOWS, 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a 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by Louisa Humphreys</b></span><br style="color: white;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Canice the priest went out on the Night of Souls;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> "Stay, oh stay," said the woman who served his board</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"Stay, for the path is strait with pits and holes,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> And the night is dark and the way is lone abroad;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Stay within because it is lone, at least."</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"Nay, it will not be lone," said Canice the priest.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Dim without, and a dim, low-sweeping sky;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> A scent of earth in the night, of opened mould;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">A listening pause in the night—and a breath passed by—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> And its touch was cold, was cold as the graves are cold</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Canice went on to the waste where no men be;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"Nay, I will not be lone to-night," said he.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Shades that flit, besides the shades of the night;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> Rustling sobs besides the sobs of the wind;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Steps of feet that pace with his on the right,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> Steps that pace on the left, and steps behind.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"Nay, no fear that I shall be lone, at least!</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Lo, there are throngs abroad," said Canice the priest.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Deathly hands that pluck at his cassock's hem;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> Sighings of earthly breath that smite his cheek;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Canice the priest swings on, atune with them,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> Hears the throbbings of pain, and hears them speak;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Hears the word they utter, and answers "Yea!</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Yea, poor souls, for I heed; I pray, I pray."</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Lo, a gleam of gray, and the dark is done;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> Hark, a bird that trills a song of the light.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Canice hies him home by the shine of the sun.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> What to-day of those pallid wraiths of the night?</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">What of the woeful notes that had wailed and fled?</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"Maria, ora pro illis!" Canice said.</span>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-24420652718122417322010-11-01T01:01:00.001-06:002010-11-01T01:01:01.652-06:00<div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MOON MAGIC<br />
by Pamela Grey</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">One day when Father and I had been</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">To sell our sheep at Berwick Green</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">We reached the farm house late at night</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">A great moon rising round and bright.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Her strange beam shed on all around</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Bewitched the trees and streams and ground.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Changing the willows beyond the stacks</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">To little old men with crouching backs.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">To-day the sun was shining plain</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">They all were pollarded willows again.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But at night—do you believe they're trees ?</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">They're little old men with twisted knees.</span></div>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-53487256606147398072010-10-31T15:46:00.000-06:002010-10-31T15:46:19.529-06:00KING ICKY III<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvvf58bQgGC7-IqyI4iCOGW1Ax-Lm5uUCXEY3DvC6lst110zYz1EkcWZ9X7sWPkJYbb7TM5tTaCjfE_wIaouCBTqTR3dEmzUpC3fWnxsjdGkmDNfIGhPIHunexl2dvjXJScUqhlyUzlQ/s1600/King+Icky+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvvf58bQgGC7-IqyI4iCOGW1Ax-Lm5uUCXEY3DvC6lst110zYz1EkcWZ9X7sWPkJYbb7TM5tTaCjfE_wIaouCBTqTR3dEmzUpC3fWnxsjdGkmDNfIGhPIHunexl2dvjXJScUqhlyUzlQ/s1600/King+Icky+01.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWI3NkJArs3fHZWQ87NxKklRax4WOZ7F95D3rn7C9DMlkD7mD20D2S2wqIS2eD300jgxodIZ9tuoPkWshkYZZAR8CfZHHCof8kcAqTDXZmf-aJH39oTZ_D39ddo1Yi0zZ7JR78JBca8hQ/s1600/King+Icky+08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWI3NkJArs3fHZWQ87NxKklRax4WOZ7F95D3rn7C9DMlkD7mD20D2S2wqIS2eD300jgxodIZ9tuoPkWshkYZZAR8CfZHHCof8kcAqTDXZmf-aJH39oTZ_D39ddo1Yi0zZ7JR78JBca8hQ/s1600/King+Icky+08.jpg" /></a></div>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-78381353846822681732010-10-31T01:27:00.000-06:002010-10-31T01:27:00.863-06:00<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>HALLOWEEN<br />
by C. Jennie Swaine</b></span><br style="color: white;" /><br style="color: white;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Gay elfins flit under the holm's broad sheen,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">As the first star rises on Halloween;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And goblins and fairies, a weird-like band,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Dance 'neath the shadow of sweet tryst-land.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">They ride through the air in their chariots small;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">They sail through the spray of the water-fall;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">They float through the billows of moon-light sweet,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And glide through the forest with noiseless feet.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Sweet fairy band, whose footsteps unseen</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Are lost in the frost-pearls of Halloween!</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">It is said that ye open, with mystic hand,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The gateway that leads to Arcana land.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">What is the secret the future unfolds?</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">What are the gifts which its fairy-land holds ?</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Are they all which a dream foreshows</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">When the rainbow of promise upon it glows ?</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">O Halloween, open thy vista gate,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And reveal through the rose-tints the lines of fate ;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Reflect in thy mirror our bloom-days bright,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And leave all the shadow-days veiled in night.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Give the hero the heritage for spoil,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Give the toiler the measure-meed of toil,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And thy dreamland glories, sweet Halloween,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The Elysium of meet reward shall seem.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Show thou to us the charmed life that lives</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">On the festal bounty of what it gives,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And we 'll learn that 't is better to write one's name</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">On the human heart than on heights of fame.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Weave your bright spell, elves of Halloween!</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">O'er a servile enchantress; but work is queen.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And no better can be the sorcerer's wand</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Than the laurel's green and the palm-tree's frond.</span>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-60807756046426555832010-10-30T22:58:00.000-06:002010-10-30T22:58:18.596-06:00THIS TIME LAST YEAR . . .. . . OVER AT <a href="http://www.grimhollowhaunt.com/">GRIM HOLLOW</a>.<br />
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I love this haunt.Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-64472876660283076712010-10-30T01:29:00.000-06:002010-10-30T01:29:00.572-06:00<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>HALLOWEEN<br />
by Henry Lee Fisher</b></span><br style="color: white;" /><br style="color: white;" /><i style="color: white;">Among the bonnio winding banks<br />
Wnere Doon rins wbimplin clear;<br />
Whore Bruce once ruled the martial ranks,<br />
And shook his Carrick spear.<br />
Some merry, friendly, countra folks<br />
Together did convene<br />
To burn their nits an pou' their stocks<br />
An' baud their Halloween<br />
Fu' blythe that night.<br />
—Burns.</i><br style="color: white;" /><br style="color: white;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">How gay and jolly was the night—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Of many an old-time Halloween ;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">A feast for saints, all-holy, all,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Yet very seldom, if at all,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">A sober saint was to be seen</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">At such a feast, for, little meat</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">There was prepared for saints to eat.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">On Halloween in other lands,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">From whence our worthy fathers came—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Among Auld Scotia's storied hills,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Along its babbling brooks and rills,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">So rich in rare poetic fame,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Witches and wizards, elves and de'ils</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Joined in the merry mid-night reels.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But true and honest country-folks—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Folks young and gay and single—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Those true and honest country-folks</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Once played their charms and cracked their jokes </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Around the cheerful, blazing, ''ingle,''</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And pulled and ''shouthered runts o' kail''</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And cracked their nuts and drank their ale.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">A youthful couple, hand in hand,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And very closely bandaged eyes,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Would, thus, into the garden walk,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And, blindly pull a cabbage-stalk</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Whose form and features, shape, and size</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">'Twas understood, were true to life,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Of future husband or of wife.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">So, were the tedious hours beguiled</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">By many a merry lad and lass :</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In kail and flax, in nuts and yarn,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In midnight winnowings in the barn,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Or looking in the magic glass,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The airy being sought and feared,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In some mysterious way appeared.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">O, many were the strange mishaps</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Of many a rude and luckless wight; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And many were the tricks and charms, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And many were the wild alarms,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">On that wild, weird mysterious, night! </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And many an ancient legend tells </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Of fairy dance and wizard-spells ;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Among the rugged rocks and caves,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Dim lighted by the friendly moon—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Upon the weird winding banks</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Where Bruce ance ruled his martial ranks”— </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The storied banks “O, Bonny Doon,”</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">As every reader knows who turns</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The mellow leaves of Robert Burns.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In this unstoried land of ours</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Not such was merry Halloween;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">No random pulling of the “kail,”</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">No roasting nuts, no foaming ale,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">No dance upon the homestead green;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">No sowing of the hemp or flax</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Nor pulling straws from oaten stacks.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">With far less rev'rence for the saints</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Or faith in charms or magic spell—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">To superstition less inclined,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In magic arts, all unrefined—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Our old time Halloweens but smelled</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Of cabbages, which by the scores</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">We hurled against the neighbors' doors.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The battering-rams of ancient times,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Or modern arts and arms of war— </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The mortars, bombs, and bursting shells, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">With union shouts and rebel yells</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And angry, belching, cannons' roar, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">All were but tame and quiet scenes </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Compared with our old Halloweens.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">A rustic regiment of boys,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And rustic girls as brave as they, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Well armed with sturdy cabbage-heads </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">While honest folks, all in their beds</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In peaceful dreams and slumbers lay, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In rude, but old-time—honored sport </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Assailed the undefended fort.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">One such bombardment I recall—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">At good old neighbor Johnny Brown's ;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">To see what all this was about,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Old Johnny and his dame came out</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In their nocturnal, nether gowns,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">When lo ! a well-directed runt</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Struck Johnny in—well, not in front.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Dumbfounded, he, a moment stood</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Beneath the overhanging eaves ,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">While '' bursting shells '' their fragments threw,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And all around the pieces flew—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Runts, broken hearts and shatter'd leaves ;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">What wonder he should run in fear</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">From such hell-fire in his rear.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Though many more as stout as he,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Such furious fire might not withstand ; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Yet, fearless, valiant, Mrs. Brown, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">More brave than Johnny, stood her ground, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">With broomstick in her sturdy hand— </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">She'd break the first one's head, she said, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Who'd throw another cabbage-head.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And now, old Johnny re-appeared,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">A looking quite subdued, though grieved</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">'Twas Halloween! was our excuse,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Inscribed upon a flag of truce,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And so respected and received</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">By Johnny, and his valiant dame,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Whose honored guests we now became.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">We gathered up the kail debris</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">That lay about the porch and door ; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">We gathered 'round the blazing hearth, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And there we swore, for what 'twas worth,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">That we would do so, never more ; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But understood, “no more” to mean, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">No more 'till next year's Halloween.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Of this our mental reservation,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Nor John, nor Betsy ever knew,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Their house and hearts were open, wide,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And of their best they did provide</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And sent not far—for fiddling Joe;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">For, Joe was never far away</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">When there were tunes or tricks to play.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And in the great old fire-place—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">That heaven for darkies here below, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Upon a block he sat him down, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Unenvious of a monarch's crown,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And rosin'd up his ready bow, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">While itching toes and buoyant heels </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Stood ready for the rustic reels.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And soon the merry dance began</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">As over the oaken kitchen floor </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">We danced with all the young Miss. Browns— </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Clad in their linsey-woolsey gowns—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Until our very toes were sore ; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">While old folks, freed from care and toil </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Sat, smoked, and quaffed their cider-oil.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And while the dance was going on,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">A panel of the kitchen door</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Flew out; and thereupon a runt flew in</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And hit old Johnny on the shin !</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">What wonder that he cursed and swore</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">By all the saints, “the devil was loose</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And riding on a tailor's goose.”</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But maugre all, the dance went on—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">No hitch nor halting in Scotch reels ,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The more old Johnny cried, "aye! aye!"</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The thicker did the cabbage fly—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The faster went the clattering heels;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">'Till John and Betsy, both, cried out,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"There's witches, elves, and de'ils about] "</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In came another company</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Of merry boys and merrier girls,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Alert with playful pranks and freaks—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">With sparkling eyes and glowing cheeks,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And O, what waving, flowing curls,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">To add new beauty to the scene,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">On that good old-time Halloween.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“More water on our mill!” we cried,—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And then, again, the dance went on;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And many a runt was kicked around,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And many a heart was crushed and ground,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And many went where more had gone—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Across the fence to feed the pigs,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Whilst we kept dancing reels and jigs!</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Old Betty sezied the poker, then,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And stirred the dull and waning fire ; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Ten thousand sparks arose and flew, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Like meteors, up the chimney-flue— </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And swift as meteors they expired ; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">So do our merry times and friends— </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">So we, when death the pageant ends.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">At length, the old folks went to bed—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">To speak politely, they retired ; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But we danced on till past midnight, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And sang and played till near daylight,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But never, never, were too tired, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Nor ever thought it sin or harm </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">To put Smith's wagon on his barn.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In fact, this was the final act</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In serio-comic Halloween; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Nor was the play esteemed complete </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Without this mad, Herculean feat—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And foolish, final midnight scene; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And who, but neighbor Johnny Brown, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Should help Smith get his wagon down ?</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Farewell to dear old Halloween—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">To merry song and dance and play; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">To home and hearth and back-log-fire— </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The torch that did our hearts inspire</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">When life was young and spirits gay; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Farewell to all the hallowed scenes </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">That blessed and cheered our Halloweens.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But, still, the world is better, now—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">O, Progress! O, Reform! Reform! </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Instead of throwing cabbage-runts— </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Against our neighbors' French plate fronts, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The boys and girls throw grains of com </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And I sing in these homespun rhymes </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The cultured manners of the times.</span>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-73613286240091063822010-10-30T00:19:00.000-06:002010-10-30T00:19:00.170-06:00I'm a big believer in the notion that poetry belongs to the reader. Actually, I'd like to expand that to <i>the world belongs to the individual</i>. Interpret and enjoy at will. To that end, in my world, this poem is about a burgeoning banshee.<br />
<br />
<div style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE WAIL OF THE BETRAYED<br />
by Francis S. Smith</b></span><br />
<br />
Come, night, sad night, and let me hide<br />
My wretchedness in thee! <br />
Nurse in thy gloom my woman's pride,<br />
My heart's deep agony!<br />
Thy sombre shadows suit me well,<br />
My trouble and unrest<br />
Are suited to thy darksome spell—<br />
'Tis night within my breast.<br />
<br />
The flowers that bloom at early morn<br />
To some may beauteous be, <br />
But those that ope at night's approach<br />
Are dearer far to me. <br />
The first like sunshine friends may smile<br />
In fortune's happy light,<br />
The latter will our griefs beguile<br />
In sorrow's gloomy night.<br />
<br />
Though bright the glorious orb of day,<br />
It has no charm for me;<br />
I would not have a single ray<br />
Shine on my misery.<br />
Like the crushed flower upon the plain,<br />
Dust-covered from the sight,<br />
So would I hide my loathsome stain<br />
In everlasting night.<br />
<br />
I love the dark-robed night, for she<br />
Shares all my bitter grief;<br />
She has a sigh in every breeze,<br />
A tear on every leaf;<br />
And while the moon looks sadly down,<br />
The stars shed, as they glow,<br />
A ray of sorrowing light that seems<br />
Like sympathetic woe.</div>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-60763492141300406622010-10-29T09:09:00.000-06:002010-10-29T09:09:00.375-06:00<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>THE GHOST<br />
by Walter de la Mare</b></span><br style="color: white;" /><br style="color: white;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"Who knocks?" "I, who was beautiful,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Beyond all dreams to restore,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I, from the roots of the dark thorn am hither,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And knock on the door."</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"Who speaks?" "I,—once was my speech</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Sweet as the bird's on the air.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">When echo lurks by the waters to heed;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">'Tis I speak thee fair."</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"Dark is the hour!" "Aye, and cold."</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"Lone is my house." "Ah, but mine?"</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"Sight, touch, lips, eyes yearn in vain."</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"Long dead these to thine...."</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Silence. Still faint on the porch</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Brake the flames of the stars.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In gloom groped a hope-wearied hand</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Over keys, bolts and bars.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">A face peered. All the grey night</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In chaos of vacancy shone;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Nought but vast Sorrow was there—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The sweet cheat gone.</span>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-69310197041274500702010-10-29T01:34:00.000-06:002010-10-29T01:34:00.418-06:00<div style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THE HALLOWEEN ELF<br />
by J.B. Tabb</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">There's a funny little elf man, </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In a funny peak-ed cap, </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And he cuts such funny capers I </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Such a merry little chap ! </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And he goes out on a frolic, </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And he shakes his little wings, </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">When he thinks how very funny </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Is the little song he sings ! </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Halloween Night!</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Halloween Night!</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In the cold bright rays</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Of the old moon's light,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Elf men and brownies !</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">No time to be lost!</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">We will frolic around</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Till we freeze up the ground,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And the children will think</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">It's Jack Frost.”</span></div>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-62782122770582301192010-10-28T01:35:00.000-06:002010-10-28T01:35:00.253-06:00<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>HALLOWEEN<br />
by William Howe Cuyler Hosmer</b></span><br style="color: white;" /><br style="color: white;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I had a vision:—in my dream</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I looked on Doon's enchanted stream, . </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The moonlight glinted forth its beam </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">On hill, and cairn. </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And one I saw who reigns supreme </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Apollo's bairn. </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">II.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The bard, renowned in distant climes, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Sighed for the sports of other times </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">When bells rang out their merry chimes, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And lads were seen </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">With lassies singing quaint old rhymes </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">At Halloween. </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">III.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“These customs of an elder day,”</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">He said, " should never pass away,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Till flowers should wreath the pole in May,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And on the green Nymphs from the Doon, and Ayr and Tay</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Should choose their Queen.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">IV.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Hearts, leal and warm, old manners hail ! </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Braw lads in Caledon will fail </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">When, as the evening shades prevail,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">No more are seen Blythe lassie pulling plants of kail</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">At Halloween. </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">V.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“With them in soul, on sic a night, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Your minstrel, Burns, still takes delight, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And though unseen by mortal light,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">His spirit glance Sees on the lawn, with moonshine bright,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The fairies dance.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">VI.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“At ingle-neuks on every farm </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Let witch and warlock wake alarm, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The burning nuts still work a charm </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">At Halloween, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">So loved when arm I locked in arm </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">With Bonny Jean.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">VII. </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“By, on the wind while spirits pass, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Rustling the leaves and withered grass, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Still let the pale and trembling lass </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Her apple eat, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And in the haunted looking glass </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">A husband greet.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">VIII.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Indeed will Scottish hearts be cold, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Her glory like a tale that's told </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">When ancient rites and customs old </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Are loved no more, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And only worshippers of gold </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Crowd Albyn's shore.”</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">IX.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Deep silence fell upon the place, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The poet's noble form and face, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Fled in my dream and left no trace, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Like vanished smoke ; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I heard Doon's waves each other chase, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And I awoke. </span><br style="color: white;" /><br style="color: white;" /><i style="color: white;">Mcpherson Lodge, Oct. 31, 1865</i>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-90094275352554925512010-10-27T10:49:00.000-06:002010-10-27T10:49:00.415-06:00<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>HAUNTED<br />
by Don Marquis</b></span><br style="color: white;" /><br style="color: white;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">A ghost is a freak of a sick man's brain?</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Then why do you start and shiver so?</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">That's the sob and drip of a leaky drain?</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But it sounds like another noise we know!</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The heavy drops drummed red and slow,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The drops ran down as slow as fate—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Do ye hear them still?—it was long ago!—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But here in the shadows I wait, and wait!</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Spirits there be that pass in peace;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Mine passed in a whirl of wrath and dole;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And the hour that your choking breath shall cease</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I will get my grip on your naked soul—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Nor pity may stay nor prayer cajole—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I would drag ye whining from Hell's own gate:</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">To me, to me, ye must pay the toll!</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And here in the shadows I wait, I wait!</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The dead they are dead, they are out of the way?</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And the ghost is a whim of an ailing mind?</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Then why did ye whiten with fear to-day</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">When ye heard a voice in the calling wind?</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Why did ye falter and look behind?</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">At the creeping mists when the hour grew late?</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Ye would see my face were ye stricken blind!</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And here in the shadows I wait, I wait!</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Drink and forget, make merry and boast,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But the boast rings false and the jest is thin—</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In the hour that I meet you ghost to ghost,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Stripped of the flesh that you skulk within,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Stripped to the coward soul 'ware of its sin,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Ye shall learn, ye shall learn, whether dead men hate!</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Ah, a weary time has the waiting been,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But here in the shadows I wait, I wait!</span>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-28964915711545034472010-10-27T01:37:00.000-06:002010-10-27T01:37:00.517-06:00<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>HALLOWEEN<br />
by Arthur Peterson</b></span><br style="color: white;" /><br style="color: white;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Out I went into the meadow,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Where the moon was shining brightly,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And the oak-tree's lengthening shadows</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">On the sloping sward did lean;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">For I longed to see the goblins,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And the dainty-footed fairies,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And the gnomes, who dwell in caverns,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But come forth on Halloween.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"All the spirits, good and evil,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Fay and pixie, witch and wizard,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">On this night will sure be stirring,"</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Thought I, as I walked along;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"And if Puck, the merry wanderer,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Or her majesty, Titania,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Or that Mab who teases housewives</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">If their housewifery be wrong,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Should but condescend to meet me"— </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But my thoughts took sudden parting, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">For I saw, a few feet from me, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Standing in the moonlight there, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">A quaint, roguish little figure, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And I knew 'twas Puck, the trickster, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">By the twinkle of his bright eyes </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Underneath his shaggy hair. </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Yet I felt no fear of Robin,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Salutation brief he uttered,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Laughed and touched me on the shoulder,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And we lightly walked away;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And I found that I was smaller,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">For the grasses brushed my elbows,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And the asters seemed like oak-trees,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">With their trunks so tall and gray.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Swiftly as the wind we traveled, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Till we came unto a garden, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Bright within a gloomy forest, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Like a gem within the mine; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And I saw, as we grew nearer, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">That the flowers so blue and golden </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Were but little men and women, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Who amongst the green did shine. </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But 'twas marvelous the resemblance </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Their bright figures bore to blossoms, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">As they smiled, and danced, and courtesied, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Clad in yellow, pink and blue; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">That fair dame, my eyes were certain, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Who among them moved so proudly, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Was my moss-rose, while her ear-rings </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Sparkled like the morning dew. </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Here, too, danced my pinks and pansies, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Smiling, gayly, as they used to </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">When, like beaux bedecked and merry, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">They disported in the sun; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">There, with meek eyes, walked a lily, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">While the violets and snow-drops </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Tripped it with the lordly tulips: </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Truant blossoms, every one. </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Then spoke Robin to me, wondering: </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"These blithe fairies are the spirits </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Of the flowers which all the summer </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Bloom beneath its tender sky; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">When they feel the frosty fingers </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Of the autumn closing round them, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">They forsake their earthborn dwellings, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Which to earth return and die, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"As befits things which are mortal.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But these spirits, who are deathless,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Care not for the frosty autumn,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Nor the winter long and keen;</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">But, from field, and wood, and garden,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">When their summer's tasks are finished,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Gather here for dance and music,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">As of old, on Halloween." </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Long, with Puck, I watched the revels,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Till the gray light of the morning </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Dimmed the luster of Orion, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Starry sentry overhead; </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And the fairies, at that warning, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Ceased their riot, and the brightness </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Faded from the lonely forest, </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And I knew that they had fled. </span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Ah, it ne'er can be forgotten,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">This strange night I learned the secret</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">That within each flower a busy</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Fairy lives and works unseen.</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Seldom is 't to mortals granted</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">To behold the elves and pixies,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">To behold the merry spirits,</span><br style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="color: white; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Who come forth on Halloween. </span>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-51326807856299546832010-10-27T00:58:00.000-06:002010-10-27T00:58:00.727-06:00<div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE NINE LITTLE GOBLINS<br />
by James Whitcomb Riley</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">They all climbed up on a high board-fence—</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Nine little goblins, with green-glass eyes—</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Nine little goblins that had no sense,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And couldn't tell coppers from cold mince pies;</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And they all climbed up on the fence, and sat—</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And I asked them what they were staring at.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And the first one said, as he scratched his head</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">With a queer little arm that reached out of his ear </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And rasped its claws in his hair so red— </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"This is what this little arm is fer!"</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And he scratched and stared, and the next one said,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"How on earth do you scratch your head ?"</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And he laughed like the screech of a rusty hinge—</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Laughed and laughed till his face grew black; </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And when he choked, with a final twinge </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Of his stifling laughter, he thumped his back </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">With a fist that grew on the end of his tail </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Till the breath came back to his lips so pale.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And the third little goblin leered round at me—</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And there were no lids on his eyes at all,— </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And he clucked one eye, and he says, says he, </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"What is the style of your socks this fall?" </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And he clapped his heels—and I sighed to see </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">That he had hands where his feet should be.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Then a bald-faced goblin, gray and grim,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Bowed his head, and I saw him slip</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">His eyebrows off, as I looked at him,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And paste them over his upper lip;</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And then he moaned in remorseful pain—</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"Would—Ah, would I'd me brows again!"</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And then the whole of the goblin band</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Rocked on the fence-top to and fro,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And clung, in a long row, hand in hand,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Singing the songs that they used to know—</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Singing the songs that their grandsires sung</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In the goo-goo days of the goblin-tongue.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And ever they kept their green-glass eyes</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Fixed on me with a stony stare—</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Till my own grew glazed with a dread surmise,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And my hat whooped up on my lifted hair,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And I felt the heart in my breast snap to,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">As you've heard the lid of a snuff-box do.</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And they sang: "You're asleep! There is no boardfence,</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And never a goblin with green-glass eyes!—</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">'Tis only a vision the mind invents</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">After a supper of cold mince pies.— </span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">And you're doomed to dream this way," they said, —</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">"<i>And you sha'nt wake up till you're clean plum dead!</i>"</span></div>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263501928931612783.post-71573721672395750992010-10-26T22:11:00.001-06:002010-10-26T22:19:30.469-06:00THE SILENCE OF THE PUMPKINSRe-posted by request. I admit, I'm a little surprised someone remembered this.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9ZQiKfu1YevEQUe1D0GEZggNpqjsyy2TF_sEsYSlJ36OGu2VajTzIFtKt36evVNL0AGWaC1fDyosnKDtE2adQUs86DsYfxETORQUUMkjHmR_Xim57fYlo4iaHb7D2GFxvOiRUuKSbXM/s1600/Hannibal-Icky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9ZQiKfu1YevEQUe1D0GEZggNpqjsyy2TF_sEsYSlJ36OGu2VajTzIFtKt36evVNL0AGWaC1fDyosnKDtE2adQUs86DsYfxETORQUUMkjHmR_Xim57fYlo4iaHb7D2GFxvOiRUuKSbXM/s1600/Hannibal-Icky.jpg" /></a></div>Drop Gallowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02302269577698577112noreply@blogger.com0