October 31st

"I walk before the LORD

   in the land of the living.
I kept my faith, even when I said,
   'I am greatly afflicted';" Psalm 116:9-10

as the Day of the Dread approaches

and we want to crawl as deep

into the pit of forgetfulness as we can,

may we take a moment to watch

all those little witches and wizards,

those hobgoblins and sports stars,

those ballerinas and ninja turtles,

those Barbies in pink and little men in black

wander from house to house

giggling and whispering

among themselves, just waiting 

to get back home where they will

remove all the masks which cover

their wonder, joy, and hope, for

they are the ones who know 

with the faith of the foolish that

there are no monsters under the bed

or walking dead hiding in the corners

except those we shape from the dust

of our fragmented fears.

(c) 2024 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman