Happy Poetry Friday! 

For this week's roundup and some batty fun, visit Carol Labuzzetta at The Apples in My Orchard and wish Carol a Happy Birthday!

 

It’s That Time of Year

 

Last night a troll rap-tapped my door,

holding out an empty sack.

I shooed him off and said, “Goodnight!”

A minute later he was back.

 

This time he brought a Pikachu.

They stared at me, their bags outstretched.

I tossed in candy, and they left.

What’s going on?  Is this far-fetched?

 

BING-BONG-BING!  My doorbell chimed.

Again, I schlepped to my front door.

A mermaid and a rubber duck

threw stubby shadows on my floor.

 

These strangers only left in peace

when plied with full-sized candy bars.

Again, again the doorbell BONGED.

They started pulling up in cars.

 

Turtles, ninjas, ninja turtles,

Barbie, Ken, The Joker, Hook,

Elivs, Woody, Cousin It,

a lipstick in a pocketbook...

 

Alice and the Queen of Hearts,

a sumo wrestler, Pete The Cat,

Uncle Sam, a witch, a shrew,

a dragon, and a toothy bat…

 

Spiderman and Peter Pan,

a blow-up beach ball on a beach,

Coraline and Frankenstein,

Mario and Princess Peach.

 

At nine, the last bunch rang my bell –

a gaggle of racoon-eyed ghouls.

I bet you think it’s Halloween.

Well, it’s not. 

 

                      It’s …

            APRIL FOOLS'!

© 2023 Draft Tracey Kiff-Judson

(Perhaps this would have been better timed in APRIL?!)

34 comments

  • Love the cast of characters! You did surprise me with April Fools, but maybe you're just throwing us off the track. Who knows what to believe? :)
  • HA! Well played, Tracey! Love the eclectic mix of costumed visitors. They don't do Halloween (or April Fools day) in Switzerland, but all of the costumes you mentioned could be found here in February/March for Fasnacht. (The Swiss equivalent to Mardi Gras.)
    • How fascinating, Bridget!  I had to search on Fasnacht to learn more.  I didn't realize that Pennsylvania Dutch culture celebrates this holiday.  Makes sense that many cultures would have an equivalent to Mardi Gras, I just had not heard of them.  Thank you for the education!
  • Such a fun list of costumed visitors and a surprise ending, too! We live up a fairly steep driveway at the top of a hill and have not had one trick or treater in all our 16 years of living here. Your poem made me nostalgic for long ago days of bonging door bells and wee ghosts, goblins, etc. 
    • We have friends who never get trick or treaters either. For the last couple of years, we have had a firepit at the end of our driveway and invited them to come hand out candy with us and drink cider.  I wish you were nearby and could join us!
  • Tracie, you certainly know how to lead us on to the finish line! What a great list of characters and thanks for the surprise. Halloween is such a fine night for all! Happy Halloween. I am sorry that I am so late to read your delightful post but what better a thing to do the night before the spooky event.

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