Halloween

All Hallows' eve, spirits, night of the dead

Trick or Treat began with giving soul's cake bread

Danse macabre, origin of mask and costume

Town criers in black, call for alms of gloom 

From Catholic to Protestant, times medieval 

Spirit retrieval turned dark and evil

First jack-o-lantern carved of a turnip

Latter a pumpkin lantern, so nothing'll burn up

Lights the way, a decapitation, held by kids

Today's virtual evil in the streets this all forbids

Reviews

[ShadesofV]

​The poem is a compelling elegy for the lost soul of Halloween, tracing the holiday's descent from a sacred night of charitable remembrance and confronting death (Danse macabre, "soul's cake bread") into a purely secular, almost meaningless activity. The final irony of the jack-o'-lantern is sharp: the small, physical light 🕯️ that once guided the living and held back the dead is utterly obsolete when facing the pervasive, modern shadow of "virtual evil." It’s a powerful observation on how contemporary anxieties have overshadowed ancient ritual.

[Soren]

Wow! deep thanks for a deeply perceptive and most penetrating, well understood analysis of this poem. The depth of the comment exceeds the poem itself. Most appreciated

[RomaJ]

Soren, I really enjoyed how this poem traces the history of Halloween in such a concise and vivid way. The connection between medieval rituals, the danse macabre, and today’s pumpkin lanterns is fascinating. Reading it made me think of my own childhood..my older brother passed away when I was little, and my parents would bake cupcakes and place toys and candies at his memorial. Even as a small child, we understood those treats were just for him. I can really see how traditions like giving soul cakes could have begun. I especially appreciated the line about “today’s virtual evil,” which wryly comments on how modern Halloween both honors and departs from its origins. A deeply thoughtful and moving poem.

[Soren]

Thank you so much Roma for not only your review and read but for your shared interpretation that follows the very thoughts I had in writing it. It is most appreciated

[RomaJ]

Soren, this poem really resonated with me and even made the spirit of Halloween come to life, in remembering loved one.