'tis October, the season
of pumpkins and cats
the sisters gather their
brooms and black hats
the veil is thin
for souls who've crossed
a time to reunite
with those we've lost
let us dance around the fire
as darkness falls
'tis the season of the sorcerer
and the Witches' Ball
“Boo!”
Howled the Gatesman as I pulled up the drive, “Welcome to the Dead Inn, we’re so glad you’ve arrived.”
“Boo!”
Screeched the Butler as he opened the door and the maid looked up scrubbing blood from the floor.
“Boo!”
Groaned the Innkeeper as he tossed me a key, “Your room is upstairs, it’s marked door number three.”
“Boo!”
Snapped the Bell-hop with an evil glare, “It gets dark at night, hope you’re not scared.”
“Boo!”
Roared the monster from under the bed, “Enjoying your evening? You do know you’re dead?”
“Nooo!”
I screamed as I gathered my wits and ran down the stairs calling it quits.
“Boo!”
Cried the Watchman as he locked the gate, “Oh, you must stay for dinner you can’t afford to be late.”
“The others will join you around the table at eight. All dead on arrival through these rusty gates.”
“Boo!”
Laughed the Grimm Reaper, “I guess heaven can wait!”
I have a mysterious memory that rattles my mind
of a monster that came knocking at story time.
Of course, it was a stormy night, all those years ago
I was a mere child, how could I possibly know?
That an old gray man, in an old green coat,
would arrive at our door with a book he wrote.
Oddly, Mother invited him in from the storm that night
and gathered the children before dimming the lights.
Then the old gray man sat in Father’s big chair
and opened his book and said with a glare,
“Come sisters and brothers and have a seat!
There’s a new monster in town I want you to meet!”
The old man’s voice was deep and raspy
as he read the story of the Great Green Graspy!
“The monster grabs children when they talk in their sleep
and he hides them in the closet where they can’t make a peep!
The Great Green Graspy is a brittle bag of bones
with ghastly green teeth and a heart made of stone.”
“So, beware, dear children,” the gray man groaned,
“for the Great Green Graspy creeps into homes!”
“He’s particularly peculiar about children who groan
when the lights go out and they’re left all alone!
Sleep soundly dear children and beware the green glow
of the Great Green Graspy, if you groan he will know!”
When the story was over and the old man stood to leave
my eyes grew wide in disbelief!
The old gray man in the old green coat
cast a ghoulish green glow and appeared to float!
All the sisters and brothers screamed and gasped
and the old gray man began to laugh.
With his big green teeth and his ghastly green eyes
the old gray man had one last surprise!
“Tonight, dear children, when you’re tucked in your beds
if you hear a door rattle, remember what I’ve said!”
That night in our room, as we tried to sleep
the sisters and brothers didn’t make a peep.
But then next door, in Mother’s room,
Father laughed and we heard a BOOM!
The closet door slammed and Mother screamed!
Was it the Great Green Graspy!
or just a dream?
