Family Fright Night (Free Verse)

Family Fright Night

Crescent moon, crescent beach, crescent shadows in the sand; shapes that shift, shapes that stay, shapes that move in changing light; light that blinds, light that glows, light that wavers as candles blow . . .

The book is read in creepy light, frightening readers who see the sight of phantom deeds in black and white as a warbled voice intones, aloud in fitful sea tossed winds, with shadows long and flames that lick and listeners switch the depthless dark with sandy hands or willow sticks, that also trace in slow smooth lines, tales that tell a truth of lies until "The End" when night is black and smoke departs without a trace--except the acrid scent of driftwood, charred!

A shiver—from the cold?

Let's go home, there's no more gold of any kind--look . . .

The crescent moon, the crescent beach, the crescent shadows in the sand are gone with darkest night; no more shapes that shift, or shapes that stay, or shapes that move in changing light--they're also gone with that same night! The light that blinds, the light that glows, the light that wavers as candles blow, is blotted with a puff that leaves the wax to cool.

A lantern lights and sighs are heard, someone picks the clump of sandy wax and shoves it in a gunny sack, and walks it from the beach--a souvenir of hallowed time, of frightening good cheer, to place upon a bureau top to celebrate with joy, remembrance of a Halloween, a Halloween this year.

Copyright 2006 Jim Ross