Poems (Elliott)/Hallowe'en
Hallowe'en
This is the mystic Hallowe'en,
When mischief is abroad I we'en,
And witches brood,
In frolic mood,
In moonbeams' silver light is seen.
When mischief is abroad I we'en,
And witches brood,
In frolic mood,
In moonbeams' silver light is seen.
The wizard chants his mystic rite,
And Hades' doors ope wide to-night,
And demons dark,
Enjoy a lark,
And sport about in flaming light.
And Hades' doors ope wide to-night,
And demons dark,
Enjoy a lark,
And sport about in flaming light.
The witch on broom-stick well astride,
To place of meeting forth doth ride,
Where caldrons boil,
'Midst great turmoil,
To brew love philters for a bride.
To place of meeting forth doth ride,
Where caldrons boil,
'Midst great turmoil,
To brew love philters for a bride.
And young folks at the witching hour,
O'er come their dread of ghostly power,
And tempt the Fates,
With laughing mates,
Or dive for red-cheeked apples sour,
O'er come their dread of ghostly power,
And tempt the Fates,
With laughing mates,
Or dive for red-cheeked apples sour,
And ample stores of nuts and jokes,
Are cracked about among the folks.
King Frolic reigns,
And age regains,
Its youth, in spite of old Time's croaks.
Are cracked about among the folks.
King Frolic reigns,
And age regains,
Its youth, in spite of old Time's croaks.
Then let the merry fun go on,
And blither be each mother's son,
For Youth is short,
And brief is sport,
When once Life's lessons are begun.
And blither be each mother's son,
For Youth is short,
And brief is sport,
When once Life's lessons are begun.
The hearty laugh, the boisterous mirth
Should with this wholesome hour have birth,
Let them ring out,
With joyful shout,
And thus attest good Hall'we'en's worth.
Should with this wholesome hour have birth,
Let them ring out,
With joyful shout,
And thus attest good Hall'we'en's worth.