Trick or Treat

At Halloween, you wax poetic

on roaming packs of kids frenetic

trick or treating, gorging chocolate,

razor blades be damned. You walked

and ran and roamed the streets,

bands of ghouls on tireless feet,

laughing, shrieking, no cell phone

so no one told you to come home.

Now you watch your kids. No daring,

urging them to please be caring.

Don’t slip & fall! Please & thank-you

no matter what those people gave you,

thanks for pencils, teensy toys--

act like you are overjoyed.

Be polite, please, and be safe.

On sidewalks, parents congregate

Hovering over progeny,

protecting them from everything.

Meet your neighbors on Halloween!

Friendly chatter, then never seen

again until this time next year.

You’ll re-introduce then, never fear.

Retreat into your house again,

reflect on childhood now, and then.

For Fireblossom's Friday/slash/Halloween prompt. This doggerel is my first offering for 30 Poems in November to benefit Center for New Americans in Northampton, Massachusetts. The poems can only get better from here! Please consider sponsoring this ridiculous yet noble activity at any amount. Thank you, dear Readers!

Marian’s 30 Poems in November fundraising page