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| A Jack-O-Lantern 10/31/2017 (dwm) |
It may seem hard to believe, but Halloween used to be a holiday for children. That's how it was in the late 60s and 1970s when I was young.
At some point, maybe the late 80s and 1990s, it became bigger. The Jack-O-Lantern was joined by displays of lights; ghosts; goblins; and inflatable creatures. Adults dressed up for their own Halloween fun after the kids got home.
Madison has one of the biggest events, called Freakfest. It's cancelled this year because of the pandemic. It started on campus; recently city officials have tried to control the behavior and make it more family-oriented.
In this week's poem, Dad shares what ghosts do for Halloween.
Bugaloo
October arrived and leaves turned from their green
To reds, yellows and golds in a bright autumn scene.
Each high school selected its Homecoming Queen,
And children prepared for a grand Hallowe'en.
Not only the children, but ghosts prepared, too;
Hallowe'en was fun as all of them knew.
Let's look at a ghost who's named "Bugaloo"
And also his friend who's called "Little Boo."
The ghosts in our story sure should have been glad,
But the end of the month found Little Boo sad.
Money was short and times were quite bad;
No parties in ghostland were planned to be had.
Bugaloo said, "Now, money is tight,
"But please, Little Boo, don't have a fright.
"For I think that ourselves we can invite
"To a party for humans on Hallowe'en night."
Little Boo's teardrops had stained his white sheet,
But he thought of that party and good things to eat,
And he smiled as he dreamed of how funny and neat
It would be for a ghost to say "Trick or Treat."
In less time than it takes for us to explain,
Those ghosts got to work and ignoring all pain,
They scrubbed their sheets clean from each kind of stain
And hoped there would be no Hallowe'en rain.
Not for a moment did the tireless ghosts cease.
They ironed their white sheets to make a neat crease.
Little Boo added a small woolen fleece,
And then he leaned back for a short rest in peace.
They looked and discovered a party to share,
And Hallowe'en night found them both there
With brilliant white sheets good ghosts have to wear;
They were happy to find some people to scare.
They let themselves in at the house's front door,
Drank some hot cider then asked for some more.
They both bobbed for some apples in a tub on the floor.
Little Boo came up with an old apple core.
The party was fun for ghost Bugaloo
And brought a big smile to friend Little Boo.
Both of them say with spirit so true,
"Happy Hallowe'en, dear people, to you!"
W.R. Mossner
A Variety of Verse
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