Trick or Treat At the Door
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Goose-y goblins,
Sweet spooks
Haunt my door
For treats.
Mommas lurk
Just out of sight
In shadows,
Making sure
Their precious ghosts
Are safe
And that no tricks
Befall them
On this haunted night.
______© Nellieanna H. Hay
It's Halloween!
OK - so it's spookier after dark! :-)
Later - 9PM
Had a lot of darling little spooks. Had to stop when they cleaned me out of treats! Besides the big kids not in costum with plastic grocery bags for treats were starting to arrive at the door.
I still love Halloween and the joy of trick or treating. But as the years go by, there are fewer neighborhoods to lurk in that don't recognize me.
Loved your phrase, 'mommas lurk', very apropos.
I,m lucky. Nobody can find my house, so nobody can bother me. Still I did enjoy your poem. Thanks Nellieanna.
gqgirl - that's so, for the most part. Lots more danger now. But the little ones don't know about the changes and they still seem to think it's a magic time & are surprisingly polite. I used to love making costumes for myself and everyone else. I'm going to greet the kids in one Halloween night,in fact. I guess I never fully grew up - hehe
haha - drbj! You're so cute! I can just imagine you lurking!
As it happens, the furthest end of my street has become occupied by more Hispanic families. They seem to take great interest in their children's activities and have the sweetest and most appreciative little ones. I love to see their eyes sparkle - maybe more so that someone my age is still having fun with Halloween. And the mommas are definitely lurking nearby! Sometimes they say "thank you" as well.
I don't decorate all that much, but have plenty of lights on for them to see their way to my porch and I try to make it look inviting, and am wearing a costume myself. I'm thinking of passing out small apples & oranges this time. Of course wrapped treats are thought less troublesome.
Christopheranton - I understand. Actually for many years George and I were usually at the ranch for Halloween and it is most definitely not a 'neighborhood' - 100 miles to town and miles to the nearest ranch neighbor, usually with no children, since it's too far from schools, etc.. But we sort of missed the trick or treaters coming to the door, though the holiday comes and goes almost unnoticed without them. We spent many Thanksgivings and Christmases out there too. They can seem more personal under those circumstances, and the stars at night are so incredibly clear and bright, it really does seem like another world.
Thank you for reading and enjoying my little poem.
Enjoyed this cute poem, especially the line
"Their precious ghosts
Are safe
And that no tricks
Befall them
On this haunted night"
We hardly have children ring our doorbell so don't plan to buy candies. As a child I found such joy in dressing up and going trick and treating but times were much safer then.
Yes in many neighborhoods, the children,if there are any, just don't go out or don't go to every house. Plus children don't dare be out alone now, I guess. For years we had a high hedge around our little porch entry and the kids just didn't come to our door, plus this is an older neighborhood with few kids living on my end of the street, which is a fairly long street, divided by a major street, almost like separate streets.
Times were even safer for adults years ago. I walked everywhere as a child. My folks didn't even have to lock the house when we were away and they never locked the car. Imagine that now!
Thanks for the visit, VS - It's really good to see you!
How sad is it that children can no longer be children and enjoy all the wonders that we had as we grew up....
Even growing up in a city as I did I wandered far and wide without fear. Back then in most communities the safety of children seemed to be the responsibility of all adults now they can't for fear of false accusations and prosecution.
A teacher friend of mine told me if a young child falls in the playground she cannot even pick it up and give it a consoling hug.... If that is not a horrible indictment of our society today then I don’t know what is.
You are soooooooooooooooo good at poetry, Nellieanna...:-)
That is waonderful peom as all the others. The you for goose-bump read.
Awesome and rated up! I got a smile from this one. I still love Halloween too. You get to dress up and get free candy! What could be sweeter?
Oh, yes, Merlin. Can you imagine anything sicker than that a well-intentioned adult cannot administer to a child needing help or comfort at risk of being accused or some heinous crime?
I realize what an innocent age and protected environment I grew up with; older people could be relied upon to have honor with children. Perhaps there were unheralded instances in which it was an exception that adults misbehaved; - or perhaps it was well hidden.
It's terrible that things have disintegrated to the present point. I'm thankful that so far in my settled neighborhood, and with parental supervision, the kiddies can still enjoy the Halloween tradition a bit.
Thanks for the visit, my friend!
Wow, Dimitris! Thank YOU! You're just too kind! Glad you liked it! I just felt that little poem and put it to paper - and then to hub. hehe :->
Hello, hello - so glad it touched you! Thank You. It's always my pleasure when you visit and read my hubs!
Austinstar! What a pleasure to see YOU here on my hub! Yes - dressing up in outlandish costumes is such fun - and even dong so to HAND OUT the canned is fun. So I'm going to!! hehe Thanks for the visit and nice comment!
(Think the Rangers will pull the World Series out of the fire?)
Nellieanna,
I liked your poem. I used to enjoy dressing up and going trick or treating with my son. We would spread all the candy on the table and eat way too much chocolate. I still enjoy treating the little ones.
Cheers
Nellieanna, I love this one. That picture of the graveyard is quite spooky. I saw TWO reddish ghosts in there... woooeeeee.... sending shivers down my spine.
And your poem is so cute, revealing the fun enjoyed by kids as well as the concern mothers must endure. I was in fact pondering over this – all the dangers hiding behind close doors - and I am really flooded with relief now that I know there is indeed mothers who accompany their children on those spooky trips for treats.
This one is voted UP and UP! Take care of yourself and beware of hovering ghosts.
Very nicely done my friend. You have the gift no matter what subject you write on. "Mommas lurk Just out of sight
In shadows", well said, however dads also lurk as well.
I remember doing just that, had my little thermos of favorite hot drink to keep me warm on usually that frosty and usually windy eve.Whilst my little goblins went forward to the doors to trick and treat, such fun years I had with my kids while it lasted.
Lovely poem Nellieanna, brought back some memories for sure. Hugs
Always Exploring - I thank you! It's true - too much sugar is consumed on and after Halloween. Oh, well. . .
In fact I've read that it is one of the biggest "spending" of all the holidays, believe it or not. Between home decorations, costumes (including rentals and purchased) and cute things to carry the "loot" in - and the candy that is bought to pass out (whether or not it's all distributed, no one wants to run short!) - lots is spent. But what fun. I truly enjoy seeing their eager little faces. Some are so shy, and others are very assertive about explaining "who" they are in their costumes!
Martie - thanks! hehe. It was a rather spooky graveyard picture, as intended. The wispy ghosts are just right! Glad you noticed them!
Yes I've been relieved to see the parents hovering nearby, as it should be these days. I would be very concerned for them otherwise. There have even been sieges of poisoned candies - so parents must be VERY alert and careful.
I will take care. Thank you! I only give out candy for a limited time. I usually have my security alarm set by around dark and leave it till well light in the morning. So it's a special evening when I leave it off and there is only the glass storm door in operation. But I have all the lights going, which I normally conserve. So the parents are cautious - and so am I!
Ken - thank you. I know that dads are out in the shadows, too. I see them often, especially when it's a fairly large family group of little trick or treaters. I appreciate them very much. Makes me feel better for the kids, the mommas - and ME!
Often much older "kids" come around a little later. They are often not in costume, or only "token" ones - and are frequently a bit too pushy about the treats. So I'm glad the dads are along.
It just was cuter for the poem to mention lurking mommas. Was only as the suggestion of the situation Halloween is these days. But I can definitely see you with yours, enjoying every minute of it!! What a great idea to have the thermos with warm beverage!
Thanks for the 'scary' poem Nellieanna. It is sad that kids can't visit their neighbours like we used to as kids, my brother and I 'lived' on the street and it was a busy main road.
My daughter and 5 of her friends dressed up and went out trick or treating and had fun but as parents we would not have let them go if there were only 2 or 3 of them.
Sadly this year we had no kids (or adults) knock on our door. And this year I bought extra chocs and sweets because last year I was caught out and ran out early.
Good to see you, MPG. It is truly sad that the world has lost its courtesy and civility, or so it seems But you know what? - The kids who came to my door last night WERE courteous! That's encouraging! They thanked me for the treats and many wished me a good Halloween and even a good week. Even their mothers and/or dads or other adults out in the shadows waved and often said "thank you". One Mom came up and asked me if I'd like to be in a photo with her children. Of course, I was thrilled to be.
And in all honesty, many of these children were from the other end of my street where there are more minority families. Perhaps they are focusing on the old-fashioned values. But all the children were polite. As I ran out of treats and older kids were starting to arrive, they were more curt and business-like about gathering the treats. I don't really like that. When giving is from the heart, it should not be received as though their due. But I hadn't really stocked up on treats. I had quite a few packages on hand and planned to turn off the porch light and stop when they were gone. I was quite generous with them - more than I intended, perhaps. But the kids really inspired me! They were adorable.
Nicely done, Nellieanna and love the pics! I think I lost the fun of Halloween about the time when we started having to x-ray candy when my kids were small. I remember some great Halloweens though when my kids were little and the pure joy of whipping up their costumes and going round and round the blocks with them. The smell of firewood burning in the fireplaces and the crispness in the air - all a part of autumn that I've always loved.
Thanks for reminding me of happy memories of Halloween. I tend to groan every time it comes around! That might have something to do with the fact that in our particular neighborhood, our street is literally sealed off and if we are not home by dark, we have to 'get in line' and follow the kids and their parents in TRAFFIC mind you to get to our house!
Hello, Audrey! Thanks for your comments. Yes, it's discouraging when children are threatened by Halloween candy. I admit to being turned off for a number of years. But for the last few, it's been quite pleasant. I'm always tempted to give fruit but I suspect it might alarm parents more than candy and kids may either love it or hate it. It's always nice when they love it. I saw a young mother and her little girl at the grocery yesterday and the child was enthusiastic about the fruit. The mother let her select the grapes, which I admired.
Yes, those harbingers of autumn are so pleasant, though here it may be hot or cold so fireplaces depend on that. This time it was balmy so it's doubtful if there were any fireplaces going. This week is supposed to be more seasonable.
Thanks for inviting us into both your home and your thoughts on this very special holiday, which happens to be my favorite of the year. Fortunately, we get a nice stream of trick-or-treaters, and plenty of lurking mommas, too! On this night, I always have a roast going in the oven. The smell of good cooking, the feel of cool crisp air, the sounds of "Trick or Treat!", and the eye candy of colorful costumes...a holiday doesn't get much better than that.
Sally - I cannot agree more! Those "treats" for the soul are lasting! And in a season so full of good celebrations of life, it's wonderful to enjoy each one as a special entity. I love them all, though if I had to pick just one, it might be the next one coming up! Glad that I need not pick just one! Thanks for lovely comments!
gqgirl 18 months ago
I loved Halloween as a kid. But it just isn't what it use to be anymore