Hallowe'en.
Who was it wrote about ghosties and ghoulies
and things that go bump in the night?
I think there was mention of lang-legged beasties
though they wouldn't give me a fright.
Hallowe'en's only the eve of All Hallows,
or All Saints, or All Souls or such,
so I don't know why people make such a fuss.
But maybe I'm just out of touch.
In Celtic religion 'twas known as Samhain
when fairy folk often came near;
the start of the winter, and time for a feast:
roast goose stuffed with walnuts, and beer.
Pagans today see the day as New Year,
a festival, chiefly, of light;
a bit like divali or yule I suppose,
dispelling the darkness of night.
For them it's a time of reflection as well,
a time to take stock you might say.
Some people though think it's playing with fire,
an evil to keep well away.
Today for most people it's just an excuse
for pumpkin heads, black cats and magic,
witches and trick or treat, fun for the kids,
but scary? That's funny. Or tragic.