1

we chat
the ghost in my room
is friendly

2

a hold up
two little cowboys
rob my candy bowl

3

big Hershey's bar
mom tells me
to check for razors

4

the missing posters
on the lamppost
grow day by day

5

fumbling for my keys
the sound of unfamiliar tires
behind me

6

at the graveyard
the dead
know how to listen

7

serious trade deals
two peanut butter cups
for a 100 Grand

8

by word of mouth
they found the house
king-sized candy bars

9

house by house
the only one
wearing a jacket

10

long talk 
under the orange glow 
from a scary face

11

planning the night 
house by house 
king-sized first

12

trick or treat!
a tiny witch
stands at my door

13

home alone
not expecting company 
the door creaks open

14

lonesome night in
a creak from downstairs
is someone there?

15

halloween week
my brother’s excuse
to jump scare me

16

go to the mirror
it is smiling
you     are not

17

floorboards creak . . .
a monster lurks 
in the shadows

18

for sale sign
the door
creaks open

19

need some water
but the dark 
hallway
l e e r s

20

get up to get a drink

cold
          hand
                    on your ankle

21

the monster 
sleeps soundly 
under my bed

22

a chilly breeze 
whispers  
through the leaves

23

midnight corn maze 
a hand finds my ankle 
dead end—

24

late October snow . . .
the fairy’s wings
worn over her coat

25

bonfire
telling ghost stories . . .
a twig snaps

26

ghost in the graveyard
searching in silence
leaves crunch

27

trick or treat
forced smile and thanks
for a pack of peanuts

28

full moon
minor key music
in the distance

29

accepting Satan’s offer
to bring me back
I wake in my coffin

30

orange marigolds
to guide you
Home tonight

31

a stray crow
the sign of an
approaching nightmare

32

mud-slide chocolate cake
the centerpiece
of the ofrenda

33

murder scene
I realize in horror
the cops already arrived

34

foggy mirror
with the reflection
of two

35

Halloween campfire
the masks off
for smores

36

mulled cider
beneath the harvest moon
a floating orange

37

Halloween night
but you wore your mask
year round

38

late at night
chattering in my walls
squirrels . . .     I hope

39

the comfort
I find
sitting at his grave

40

when i go
lay out my bones
for the birds

41

after the event
flying away
on the broomstick

42

ofrenda completed
hoping grandpa
comes to say “hi”

43

i look in the mirror 
red eyes
don’t belong to me

44

pulling out the guts 
punching out the eyes 
jack-o-lantern

45

haunted house
the masked man
doesn't work here

46

high stakes negotiation
an alien and a zombie
trade candy

47

children shriek and cry
a monster
I didn't dress up

48

darkness 
the bonfire
runs out of stories

49

post horror movie
the walls
speak

50

moonlight shadows
over the house
where the girl went missing

51

trick or treat
the cops look 
for the children