Sunday, October 28, 2007

Spirits




The veil between the worlds is wearing thin.
As October hobbles to its chilly close,
the spirits slip their summer discipline
to haunt our porches in their parent’s clothes.

Monsters jostle demons in the streets,
the walking dead are jolly as they rot;
it’s difficult to say, of those we treat,
who might be whom, and who may not.

But soon enough November falls in place,
with a question no one ever asks:
what kind of creatures would we face
if grownups finally put away their masks?

6 comments:

Unknown said...

A scary thought, masks, not Samhain.
Doesn't bear thinking about - we should all keep them on, the horror would be too much.
My most useful one is my 'fine' mask - 'fuming internally no emotion'. All the staff at my work have an identical one to deal with the boss.

"Yes, that's fine".

Anonymous said...

When you meet a 'grownup' without a mask, they shine brightly.
I really enjoyed the line, ...who might be whom, and who may not."
Fun, rolicking rhythm there.

pundy said...

That poem is so perfect it hurts.

Unknown said...

Grown ups without masks are but children.

Debi said...

I don't see you as wearing a mask, John ...

S. Kearney said...

Oooo, I like this one! :-)