All Hallows Eve (Poetry)

Tonight’s the night all Hell lets loose —
the Devil comes to call
his hoofprints burn along the path
foul odours haunt the hall

His demons join the party’s throng
they niggle, taunt and prod
so dead things rise and walk the earth
defy the laws of God

The graves are empty — zombies roam
their stumbling bodies creak
they hunt the lonely unlit lanes
it’s living flesh they seek

Swarms of bats fly overhead
they’re of the vampire kind
red-eyed and eager to drain blood
from any neck they find

Fat black spiders weave huge webs
then dangle there to snatch
unwary and unlucky prey
who prove a juicy catch

So quick to sink their poisoned fangs
the victim can’t escape
all struggle useless since the silk
winds round like sticky tape

The woods are full of skeletons
and beasts who have strange names
while witches do their wicked work
and conjure smoke and flames

They lure old dragons from their lairs
and monsters from the sea
the warlocks and the wizards all
from sleep’s dark curse burst free

The air is full of shrieks and howls
from midnight’s striking on
and not until dawn breaks the spell
will fiends and ghosts be gone

So good folk lock and bar the door
the crucifix keep near
light candles — read the shepherd’s psalm
as antidote to fear

Let no poor stranger through your door
however hard he begs
but send the Devil packing with
forked tail between goat legs!