​

​There is a ghost name of Mary
who tries to be extra scary.
Eve of All Hallows
she’ll haunt the gallows
assuring rev’lers won’t tarry.
                                       -N.K. Wagner

​

THE BALLAD OF JACK O'LANTERN
                 ​Jack O'Lantern lost his head--
                 that's the story, it's been said.
                 he took a fright, off it popped,
                 hit the ground and never stopped.

                 He stumbled to his front porch,
                 couldn't see despite his torch.
                 A pumpkin lay at his feet.
                 It seemed a match, round and neat.

                Emptied, carved, and stuck in place,
                it supplied a proper face.
               A candle stub gave him light.
               Now, he could see at night.

               Jack searched the ground for his head.
               It got late.  He went to bed.
               With the dawn he looked some more,
               even 'round by his back door.

               He searched the garden and the well.
               Jack couldn't find where it fell.
               He searched the river and the road,
               where that night his horse he rode.

               Unhappy Jack wore pumpkin grin
               while every nook he looked in.
               Jack looks, still.  He's never bored.
               Folks say he's out of his gourd.
                                                             -N.K. Wagner
​copyright 2016

​

​"Oh no," cried ole' Rip in November.
"There's something that I must remember."
He watched television
and made a decision
to slumber through every December 
                                                               -Jenny Harp

​

Bedtime for Bono
Time for bed... I said
...for me...
turning off the tv
...and you too.

Will there be room
for all of you...
  you said
..in the bed?

There will if Bono lies
on The Edge.
- Marc Woodward