Halloween Poems

Here are two Halloween poems for your reading pleasure. I know the author really well and thought they would get everyone in the mood for the spooky holiday coming up. I can't wait until Halloween. Oh, and in case you are wondering, Mark wrote these years ago. Enjoy!

Spirits of St. Avon

'Twas the fall, late October,
When I did chance upon,
A weary traveler along the path,
That descends from St. Avon.

Now St. Avon, as we were told,
Was not to be explored,
'Twas there where ghastly tales befell,
Quite eerie was its lore.

I asked this haggard transient,
From whence might he have come,
His eyes grew large and black as coal,
His cryptic story begun-

"My lad, you cannot comprehend,
What strangeness I did see,
In the forest of St. Avon,
Tranquil, at first, it did seem.

For I had never heard of,
This land of dense forest growth,
So about I went into the thick,
Dark woodland so remote.

Just several paces into the woods,
I noticed that the sky,
Which minutes before was clear and bright,
Was now cloudy to my eye.

I marveled at this sudden change,
But continued on my way,
When suddenly a cold, damp feel,
Drove the warm, dry air away.

At this point, I was not too keen,
On passing through this land,
But fool, I thought, 'tis nothing but
Mother Nature playing her hand.

The sun grew weak and fell away
Into the forest's hills,
I donned my warm and furry cap
And coat to fight the chill.

The moon rose quick to guide my way,
For dense did stand the trees,
'Twas hard to find my way down through,
Getting lost I found came with ease.

'Twas then I noticed not all was right,
For just a ways ahead,
I thought I saw some tree trunks move,
My steps I did suspend.

And from behind, my ears did seize
A crack from the leaves below,
I whipped around in anxious fright,
To see nothing under the moon's milky glow.

I proceeded along at a much faster pace,
As the trail began to decay,
I then tripped in a furrow, and fell to the earth,
I could not arise right away.

For the growth of the forest clutched both my arms,
And held me to the ground,
I looked and saw the devilish moon smile
And the trees did laugh all around.

I lay in fright as I then beheld,
Just beyond this stand,
An eerie glow slowly approach,
I struggle to free my hands.

'Twas a ghost whose shape was that of a man,
Its lower half was gone,
It chuckled and snickered in delight,
'Twixt the trees it meandered along.

As it drew near, I saw the pale face,
Had only two empty black eyes,
I was caught in a trance and couldn't escape,
An inevitable, ignominious demise.

And as the foul specter lunged,
To send me to my doom,
The distant sound of a crowing cock,
Did startle the wraith and the moon.

Then a glimmer of light did peek just above
The horizon to the east,
And banished my nocturnal foes,
I then found myself released.

Now listen, young man," he somberly said,
"I know you might think I'm a fool,
But be warned of that forest when it is dark,
For at night, roguish spirits do rule."

He went on his way without looking back,
And caused me to ponder his tale,
For was it all true and transpired as told,
Or was it concocted by ale?

There is only one way for me to unfold
The mysteries of this forest at night,
And that is to see for myself, so I go,
To seek out all the spooks of the night.