'Twas a dead still October night
On the eve of Samhain.
Which is most known as All Hallows eve.
A branch tapping my windowpane,
The tick of the old clock,
Almost in a soothing cadence
That lulled me almost into dream,
Were all that stirred the silence.
I had that cold feeling of eyes
Watching, staring, drilling 'neath my skin
Watching, staring, drilling 'neath my skin
From some unseen, unknown spectator.
Alone as I was; knowing it defied reason.
No draft stirred a single flame.
Windows and doors all closed tight.
Still I felt a need to shudder
On that Silent October night.
My thoughts drifted into dream.
I felt a nightmare slowly creeping,
Crawling up my back, o'er ribs and spine.
Realizing I was not at all sleeping.
I hastily sprang from my nest
To shake off the ghostly frost,
Which had made my body home.
Even by the fire not a bit of cold was lost.
Long I stood shivering, shuddering, wondering
'Til I felt the cold begin to flee.
My heart that had been racing, then relaxed
Unsure what had overcome me.
I could but laugh a madman's laugh.
My laugh was echoed much colder,
Resonating near and yet so distant.
I felt a hand 'pon my shoulder.
Bracing to emphasize the joke unspoken.
I looked but was nothing there,
Empty space waiting on a dream.
Naught as thin air.
"Whoever you might be
You may end your pesky charade.
Lift this abysmal shadow
Put end to your masquerade."
Certain my mind had journeyed
Into the cruel depths of madness.
I feared there would be no escape
From its frantic darkness.
Had my mind played tricks,
Or did I have an unseen visitor?
I was answered by its manifestation.
There she was; ghostly spectre.
Struck by fear and awe at once.
The last that I heard
As she disappeared; Her last ghostly words,
"I wish thee Happy Halloween."
© Jerry Langdon 2017
