Monthly Archives: October 2016

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Malevolent Mirth

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Posting this as the clock strikes midnight and porch lights darken on another fiendish, funky, frivolity-filled festival of fright! Hope you all got what you wanted in those plastic orange pumpkins, sorting through wrappers on a self-induced sugar high, a good replacement for the adrenalin now on the wane. Halloween 2017 falls on a Tuesday which will prompt its own challenges and I for one am grateful for the long weekend this year which meant a lovely long stretch of the legs towards the slow amble of this evening.  I really appreciated being able to indulge in the extra time to surprise and savor.  That being said, this month flew by faster than witches on firebolts, and as an extension of the magical theme of the Season, am really looking forward to seeing Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them which opens Nov. 18th, 2016 – yet another foray into the wizarding world of you-know-who.  Let me thank you all again, those of you who stopped by for a bit of “light reading” and I hope you found something you liked.  Kudos to Countdown to Halloween for another raucous romp through Halloween blogs, nods to all those who partook for their dedication.  I am posting a painting by an etsy artist named Chelsea Bester, this witchful depiction of the nights festivities leaves me wistful and wishing for just a little more time, alas I must reset the clock.  Malevolent mirth indeed, till the moon rises next Eve, farewell!

 

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Perils Night

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For one Night only amid the Pall

Of fleeting days that come with Fall

Into that time of lengthy nights

Come Harvest Moon and candy Rites

For this night only Perils walk

And Nightmares wake as mortals gawk

Upon odd Folk on festooned streets

Marauders bent on taking Treats

For one night only alive They seem

To Whimsic frolic as if a dream

To Caper and Croon til Cock will Crow

With fierce abandon They bestow

For one night only We join the Fest

And add our glee to glamour’s Best

To mix Within and earn Their pass

To hide ourselves amid the Mass

For this night only too soon will end

Sun will rise and Barrier mend

They’ll draw away as if a wand

Had swept them off to Their Beyond

For this night only You too will pine

To be among those few Sublime

Who in Their turn will watch and wait

For warmer Seasons to abate

For this night only They will Return

As surely as the candles Burn

And once more will They dance on scene

With all who welcome Halloween!

by A.E., October 2009

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Mirth and Musings Part 16

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I am encountering a rise in anticipation as the Eve approaches and I find that anticipation can quickly turn to anxious knots as preparations progress.  Still its not without merit as I liken it to the same apprehension I would feel venturing out into the darkness, drawn towards the smoky lights of flickering jack-o-lanterns, the more ambitious smoke and mirrors of yard haunts, even the rather mundane porch light.  In my day (yes, I am that old) we left the house in our made up costumes, lucky enough when Mom took a hand, and with just a group of friends with hands grasping well worn pillowcases, brown paper bags or the (dare to dream) printed plastic shopping bag, with its colorful Halloween images, take ourselves off into the unknown.  This New Yorker Magazine cover by Abe Birnbaum is a wonderful image of a group of friends heading out along well worn or maybe undiscovered paths on that annual candy rite of passage.  Certainly the prospect of free candy had its merits, but I think it was the absence of adult supervision that really appealed to me.  We could go anywhere – talk to anyone – take part in mazes and haunted garages and plans and plots for short-cuts to far off neighborhoods we only really saw from the school bus windows.  It was a no holds barred aberration of rules, instead of being home before the street lights came on we made our way through the darkness to those elusive flickering lights of yards and doorways, instead of making certain we were dressed appropriately for our destination we chose the rattiest or gaudiest draping we could find to deck ourselves out to fit our idea of “witch” or “ghoul” or “Batman” or “princess” and instead of being told we couldn’t have one more piece of candy, we could gorge as we went along, sure in the knowledge of one more street to plunder before the porches went dark.  Sigh.  So despite the hype of candy checking and actual horror of “trunk o treating” I extend my heartfelt appreciation to those of you still doing it the old fashioned way on both sides of the door.  To you Trick or Treaters and Haunters everywhere making the journey and the destination equally worthwhile.

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Moonlit Revel

This one I will preface by saying you may have noticed in my header the lines from a poem that I change occasionally.  I post it here in its complete form, I hope you enjoy it.  The work was inspired by this stamp image that I once purchased after customizing with a line from my poem.  I am getting these again this year for my Halloween invites, you can purchase by the sheet, these are a great product offered by Zazzle.com go online and pick and choose and edit to your hearts desire.  Can’t wait to use these again. Enjoy!

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“Stroll with me beneath the Moon,

for surely They’ll be coming soon

to share with us the deepening gloom,

that must be Halloween.

Fellow Revelers walk this Night,

as They awake from yearly plight

deprived til now of sweet delight,

that must be Halloween.

Mischievousness the only goal,

for these few hours on parole.

And none but They could be so droll

that must be Halloween.

Sorry am I that They must wait,

upon the Eve to cross the gait.

Alas that is Their yearly Fate,

that must be Halloween.

All too soon the Night will fade,

and All shall pass into the Shade

to wait upon the next parade,

that must be Halloween.

Perhaps you’ll stroll with me once more,

when Gate stands wide and Spirits tour.

No other sight stir’s my hearts core,

that must be Halloween.”

-AE

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Autumn Eyes

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From earth fog will rise

Prospects awaiting

Seen through autumn eyes

 

Cunning and patient

While folly foils fear

Silently stalwart

As hot breath draws near

 

Wind winds the cornstalks

A deep throaty hiss

Blackbirds go silent

A sign alls amiss

 

Ripe rabble en route

Yet focused on farce

Caught within whirlwind

Too beguiled to parse

 

Soon passing threshold

Point of no return

Eyes glowing hotter

Revealing the yearn

 

Rustling unbidden

And shifts unexplained

Imminent movement

From malice unchained

 

Traversing corn maze

Dupes still unaware

As soon all succumb

To Halloweens scare

– by A.E. October, 2016

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Mirth and Musings Part 15

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I haven’t yet thanked everyone out there who is stopping by to visit – the days (and nights) are quickly passing and our Big Night is advancing and I wanted to reach out a bit and express my gratitude to Countdown to Halloween blogspot for hosting their compendium of Halloween blogs again this year.  It’s a great concept and much appreciated by me not only to be included but to have access to so many interesting and quirky blogs.  Fun to see so many sides to Halloween, the different perspectives and niche interests that expand and expound the experience.  If you are of the same mind, just click the Cryptkeeper button at the right to delve into the deep end yourself.

I am highlighting some of my writing this October, so if you stay awhile I hope you enjoy some of what I have and will be posting and this Mirth and Musings highlights another of my New Yorker covers.  I love the mischief in her eyes, seemingly to catch a peek at some malevolence to be sure.  Perhaps she is waiting to take a hand, or just enjoying the dreadfulness from afar…sure in her ability to provoke and promote misdeeds herself and appreciating others efforts.  In either case, that piercing gaze would unsettle my mettle.  Wonderful.

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Pumpkins on Porches

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Pumpkins on porches devoid of the scorches awaiting their annual plight.

Soon knife will descend for a gut wrenching end but reborn with flame burning bright

Orbs patiently wait this glorified fate as sentries of Falls candy rite.

The obvious choice, gives the Eve a mute voice calling out “stop here for a bite!”

Flashing their glances whilst youngsters take chances braving their mischievous sight.

In groups or by one, they’ll come and they’ll come, to challenge this well-meaning fright.

As porches grow dark they remain the last spark, a reminder of mischiefs big night.

Soon burned flesh will rot and all’ll be forgot diminished by Novembers’ light.

–AE, October 2016

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Fear Not The Dark

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Strange that the Night, whose delight is fright

is nothing without a little light.

They work in concert you see, tricking your sensibility.

Tis light that creeps and weeps in crevices and corners deep.

Halos the wicked. Disturbs your sleep.

First one and then the other, lucid thought and courage smothered.

The dark appears, it sneers and jeers, taunting you with fervid fears.

Till eagerly you flick a switch, to confidently banish pitch.

Contrary light, glows bright its might betrays as it restores your sight.

You see it coming. You try to hide.

And conscious of irony, close your eyes.

–AE, October 2016