October 31st

Cherry

By Penny4athought

Sun, 11 Oct 2026
  • 504 reads
14 comments
 

Autumn leaves tumble

in chill October winds

Street lamps glow

with auburn shades of a setting sun

Jack-o-lanterns adorn lawns 

with evil smiles

in flickering flames

Paper skeletons

hang on doors

shiver in the wind

Cauldrons overflow

with candied delights 

And costumes await

the nights reveal

as darkness falls…

 

Doorbells ring

Voices squeal

‘Trick-or-Treat’

amid giggles

and laughter

and running feet 

‘til 

Goody bags

filled to bursting

are carried home 

to be enjoyed

 

as midnight approaches

 

Door locks turn

Windows shut tight

and sleepy eyes

give up the ghost

for pleasant dreams

and happy slumbers….

While outside…in deepening shadow

under a crescent moon

Something wicked this way walks, flies and slithers

Vocalizing

a harmony

of spooky tunes

in

howls

hoots

and cackles

 

icy air

 frosts the trees

sunken eyes

watch 

for foolish souls

to step

into

their realm

 

Restless

Halloween Spirits

wander at will

‘til

the haunting,

light

of daybreak

thickens the veil

again

 

Certificate 15
Poem
Fantasy

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

fair puts the fear into you. 

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

Thank you Celticman- glad you enjoyed it,smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by insertponceyfre... on

Brilliant Penny - spooky is as spooky does, and you certainly did it here! : )

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

I tried to evoke a spooky vibe- happy you felt it was there. smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by Di_Hard on

how you have the parts in different layouts works really well :0) The fun, cosy first part, keeping to the safe edge, the scary second part making its own path, prowling in the middle, tall as a shadow in moonlight

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

Thank you Di-hard - wasn't sure if it worked, going from the happy aspect to the spookier element, so your comment made me happy to know you felt that it did. smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by airyfairy on

I absolutely love this. The wonderful evocation of happy Halloween and then the change of mood, so very well handled. I read it aloud, and then looked over my shoulder...

Submitted by Penny4athought on

Thank you so much airyfairy - sorry to have spooked you, but so happy to know you enjoyed it.smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

I really enjoyed this, Penny. You've captured the fun part, the treats and dressing up and then the truly frightful element presented in a spooky format. Foolish souls messing about with what they don't understand...

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

Thank you, Jane. I'm so glad you enjoyed my attempt at spooky and the two definitions of the day. smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by marandina on

I like the transition moving from traditional Halloween fun to a more ominous world of spirits after midnight.

Wonderful, Penny. 

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

Thank you, Marandina. I'd hoped it worked to show the two different takes on the day and I'm glad you thought it did. smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by Tom Brown on

I hate it I think it is evil since when they poisoned my dogs with weed killer. Luckily they made it but it was an ordeal.

In my country we make nothing of halloween please don't.

All the best. Tom

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

Thank you Eds for the cherries - a bright spot in my day. smiley

Penny4athought