by Del Antonio

Created on: October 03, 2009

When Hallows Eve approaches nigh and silver moon surmounts the sky,

the giant eye aloft it gazes tracing paths of passersby.

In prior months we think it sound to walk the night in our town

with little thought of creeping shadows growing 'round the dying light.

There goes a story told for years, heard from parents passed to peers,

about a stranger passed through here one night en route to Gloucestershire.

As I have heard his face was haggard his smell uncomely, his clothes were tattered.

Saggy eyed though cold and sober, he made his way here late October.

Many thought him queer, I take it, but silent virtue steeled their lips

and being that a room was vacant, he purchased board at yonder inn.

But ponder him did Mary, the keeper's daughter, though her father did

his best to keep her far from him. Her questions he found bothersome.

So on the night of Hallows Eve, when all the town was full of mirth

to light the fires for winter's birth, and mark the harvest season's leave,

she snuck away to catch him sleeping, peering through his open window

but there she saw him bedside kneeling, grieved and crying in his sleeve.

But then arose quick to his feet, did he, and pressed his face to glass

Ataken back she nearly fell to meet him face to face, aghast.

For all she met were vacant eyes, that looked beyond, to her dismay.

Like pebbles on a river bottom his eyes were sunken, old, and gray.

She heard him call a name just softly, piercing through the window pane

He said "Return my sight to me, you evil demon spawn, Samhain!"

then let forth a cry that chilled her spine, she turned away to run inside

but saw a fog had rose around her. The fires' lights somehow had died.

But there a figure emerged to meet her shrouded in a raven coat

the sound of horses feet about him, resemblance of a shaven goat,

but twice as tall as any man she ever saw since she was born.

His hair was prickly in the moonlight and graced his head like oxen's horns.

"Adieu, young lass." he said,

"There's nothing left to see, except that final image

of the moon aglow in back of me.

You sought the sight of Jack as Jack once sought the sight of me,

but unlike Jack you lack the wit to escape me now with bribery.

No crosses do you carry, nor the guile to save your skin as he

and here I have you eyes and all and pure in your virginity!"

But as he laughed there came the sound of glass ashatter on the street

and there was Jack, his eyes still gray, drawing crosses at their feet in crimson red.

The man in black soon cowered, doubled over, meek

and shrunk down to a hissing cat, before the two of them could speak.

She stepped away and glanced to see the crimson wounds upon Jack's palms

Then wept upon him, shaking still, convinced the raven man was gone.

But spoke the cat into her ear a caterwaul that pierced her soul

"Escape me now, if you should dare, but in the end where shall you go?

For all your life until your death I'll be nearby awaiting

and soon you'll lose your sight from staring into shadows straining

vision failing, frightened at the sound of passing horses' canter

Blind as a bat you falter, mistaking pumpkins for your lantern."

And what he told her I have heard, is just how things had gone

So every Hallows Eve we gather round and sing the song

Of the raven man, Jack o'lantern, Mary with the bloody dress

and when a black cat crosses paths we all take sudden breaths.

Where once we walked our streets at night in moonlight without fear

On Halloween we rush under the moon, lest he be near.

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