Go Away Witches, Halloween Poem

by Carla
(Macon, GA, USA)

Growing up in a small town there was not much to do. So we looked forward to holidays as a diversion from our everyday lives. Except for Halloween. This holiday sparked in me a sense of dread, not anticipation.

From the time I was very little, I had a morbid fear of Halloween, particularly the sight of witches.

I remember clenching my candy bucket tight, close to my chest, peeping over the edge above my hands. All the while searching the blocks of my neighborhood for black-draped witches with their crooked noses and pumpkin teeth candy.

The witches'sinister smiles and green faces peering down made trick or treating scary for me. My costume-covered knees trembled, competing for attention with my chattering teeth and breathless pounding in my chest.

I think it began when I was very little ... my parents were going to a Halloween party, mother dressed as witch. Her makeup was so realistic I didn’t recognize her when she came to my room to kiss me good-night. She nearly frightened the life out of me, I screamed and cried so, that my parents were an hour late for their party.

As a mother today I take care that the littlest trick-or-treaters have fun, not fright.

Go Away Witches, Halloween Poem

Trick or treat time in our house is a sight,
my baby girl stands in a terrible fright.

The older kids urge and coach her on,
but she won’t leave til the witches are gone.

She looks and watches as we walk the streets,
she squeezes my hand when a witch she meets.

She approaches doors, oh so slightly,
then sees a neighbor with a bowl of candy.

She sticks her chest out high and mighty
and yells "Trick or treat!" very proudly.