
October Siege
October.
The siege begins.
Enemies among us
Everywhere!
With evil grins,
They lurk,
They skulk,
They glare,
Sharp fangs bared.
October.
Hide inside.
Nighttime danger
Everywhere!
With shining eyes,
They menace,
They taunt,
They torment,
Mouths opened wide.
See how they glow!
Deadly, gap-toothed grins
Midst curves of vivid orange.
Silently screaming with devilish glee,
They gleam on nighttime porches,
And march up darkened drives.
Casting yellow light from watchful eyes,
They search for unwary victims,
For slow and easy prey.
Big ones, tall ones,
Skinny ones, or round.
Colored like the fiery sun,
Or the moonlight pallor of alien visitors.
They line up on fence posts,
Stair steps, and windowsills.
Peering out . . . or peering in?
Looking for who?
You!
October.
Watch your step.
They’re back again,
Everywhere!
With wicked intent,
They scheme,
They hunger,
They haunt,
Pumpkins on patrol!
Boo!
Hope you enjoyed this little ditty from my book of poetry, Summer Magic.
(Which actually includes more than summery themes.)
Available on Amazon for just $.99



Love it!
Happy Halloween.
As a child in the north of England, we used to carve swedes or turnips into Jack O’Lanterns using a spoon! To this day, I still enjoy eating raw swede, to my husband’s horror! I think this was the original tradition in Scotland and Ireland. When people emigrated to the USA, they started to use pumpkins because it was what they had. Although pumpkins are a lot easier to carve!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It seems like I remember reading that even in America, folks used to carve turnips, too, Jackie. Maybe they brought the custom over with them, and switched to pumpkins over time. Not sure. But pumpkins can be huge and they are definitely easier to carve, because … HOLLOW inside! 😀 Either way, it’s a fun thing to do.
Thanks for stopping by and hope you have a fun-filled Halloween! 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! We’re having a happy Howloween – we can hear jackals out in the countryside here in Bulgaria!
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, wow! I don’t think I’ve ever heard a jackal. What fun, especially on Halloween! Have a great one! 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d never heard a jackal until we came to Bulgaria – it has the largest jackal population in Europe!
I might have seen a couple the other night. It’s hard to say, but three jackal-sized things sloped past the truck at a distance the other night when I let the pups out for a middle-of-the-night comfort break. I called the pups back straight away, but the creatures were too far away to be sure – right on the limit of my torch beam. There are a lot of stray dogs around, but they vary in size. The animals I saw were all uniformly the same size and shape, so possibly a new wildlife sighting for me! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nothing like a new wildlife sighting, right? I know how excited I get when I spy something I’ve never seen before, so I congratulate you on what sounds like a spot-on ID to me. The uniformity is a good indication that you may have a new species on your Life List now. (You do keep a Life List, right? I know I do, and I LOVE adding to it!) 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a mental life list, but I probably should have a written one!
I absolutely love wildlife encounters!
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍🏻😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Halloween my friend!! Do children still go trick-and-treating in your area?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Happy Halloween to you, too, Darlene. And in general, yes to trick or treating, but not so much in our neighborhood, which is quieter, with no little kids living nearby. Some years we get a few, some none at all, especially since the pandemic. But we always try to be prepared, either way.
And this is the first year in MANY that I didn’t carve a pumpkin to put out front. I meant to, but didn’t get around to it. *sigh* We’ll leave the light on, anyway, just in case any little ones come by. 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
👻💀🤡
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s brilliant, Marcia! Happy Halloween! 👻🎃💀
LikeLiked by 2 people
So glad you enjoyed it, Cathy! One of these days, I’m going to put together a new book of poetry, just for fun. Maybe I’ll include a poem about witches next time. 😀
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a Happy Halloween, too! 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Brilliant Marcia…captured the essence of Halloween perfectly.. may the tricksters be few and the treaters aplenty…♥♥
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much, Sally! Wishing you the same thing, and hope you have a super fun evening. Glad you enjoyed October Siege, too. 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
♥♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
chills and goosebumps… just right for Halloween, Marcia…
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree, Jaye & Anita! Toss in a few shivers, and you’ve got the perfect Halloween! Glad you enjoyed October Siege, and hope you have a fun evening, with lots of smiling little kids, but no pranksters. Happy Halloween! 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
🎃🎃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great poem, Marcia! Happy Halloween 👻🎃👻🎃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jeanne! Glad you enjoyed it, and I hope you have a Happy Halloween, too! I was thinking about dressing up as an old crone & going trick or treating, but then I realized I wouldn’t even have to dress up. 🙄Sort of took the joy out of it! 😂😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fun poem, Marcia! Have a safe Halloween!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Vera! Glad you enjoyed it, and I hope you have a safe and fun Halloween, too, with or without pumpkins on parade. 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Halloween! Your poem is delightful. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Kymber. I’m delighted you enjoyed it, and appreciate your taking a moment to let me know. Have a wonderful Halloween! 😀 ❤
LikeLike
So fun, Marcia. I hope you have a marvelous (and not too scary) Halloween. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you enjoyed it, Diana. It’s usually pretty quiet around here on Halloween, but now and then we get a few kids stopping by. We’re ready for them, either way. 😀 Hope you have a great evening, and that your is also not TOO scary. 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
We don’t get trick or treaters up here in the woods, Marcia. It’s too scary. I might buy a couple of candy bars for the hubby and I to enjoy. That’s not scary at all. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have to watch your back in October.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep. You never know when some grinning pumpkin might sneak up on you and holler “BOO!” 😁Have a great evening, HHL! 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fun poem, Marcia. Happy Halloween.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you liked it, John, and here’s to a great Halloween for you, too! Have fun! 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Marcia.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a wonderful Halloween treat, Marcia! I will be on the lookout for the pumpkin patrol. Xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you enjoyed it, Denise. I really had fun writing that one, and I figured today was a perfect day for sharing it. Thanks for stopping by and hope you have a great Halloween!
😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoyed this!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jennie. I had fun writing it, too, and am thinking about putting together a second book of poetry, to keep Summer Magic company on Amazon. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a wonderful idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fun poem loved it
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you enjoyed it, MsHazyBrain. Thanks so much for stopping by to read it and let me know your thoughts! 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this, Marcia! So visceral and fun. Beautiful writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for your kind words, Sue. I started writing poetry at the age of five, and have written it off and on my entire life. I’m thinkin seriously about putting together another little book of poems before long. We’ll see how the ol’ brain is functioning in the weeks ahead.
And thanks for stopping by to let me know your thoughts, too. I really appreciate it!
😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is so cute. So, which do you prefer writing, poetry or fiction?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed it, Marsha. As for my preference, it just depends on the mood I’m in and how much time I have for writing. I love both, really, though I’ve written poetry for much longer than I’ve been writing books. (Started with it when I was five years old.)
Thanks so much for stopping by and taking time to share your thoughts. Have a super weekend ahead! 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, five years old! Do you have any of your childhood poems? You are so prolific. 🙂 Have a great weekend, too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Alas, it all disappeared over the years. My father was in the service, so we moved a lot, and I expect it got thrown away here and there. But OH, how I’d love to be able to browse through it today. I used to fill up entire legal tablets with all sorts of poems about cowboys and horses and cats and such. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wouldn’t that be fun. I started writing poetry in 5th grade. My dad called me Hemest Earningway. LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I like that, Marsha! Very clever. 😀 And getting an early start with any kind of writing can only be a good thing, if you ask me. Thanks for sharing! 😀 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree! Too bad your parents didn’t hold on to all of yours. I wasn’t prolific like you were. Moving is hard. We did some of that, too, but for different reasons. Have a great weekend. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Marsha, and I hope you had a great weekend, too. I’m late responding because my daughter flew in from Denver for a visit this week, and I’ve been super busy doing things with her. 😀
LikeLike
Have fun with your daughter. Those are special times. 🙂 xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful colors! ^^;
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Yolanda. Glad you enjoyed them! 😀 ❤
LikeLike