October’s End

Somehow it just seems right
To see you again at October's end.
Halloween is a time the world celebrates
horrors...This is horrible:
to disguise our faces --- to scream in the dark
to see the streets filled
with fanged demons --- ourselves fanged demons.

Tell me about the beauty of
bright, new candy.
Show me your brown bag full of
sweet things from other dark doorways.
Tell me how you've been
haunted by more colorful masks.

Step into my parlor now.
My carved pumpkin grins ridiculous:
a perfect likeness of me.
I cut this grim expression out
Of a soft, thick vegetable skull.
I know that hot burning behind his eyes.
It is mine.