Debra LaValley's Blog

Gate Night - Trick or Treat 2010

Tonight is Gate Night in Penacook/Boscawen. It is when the locals go out trick or treating. I had 45 kids this year (plus Tim & Christopher who stopped by for a bit) – not bad. It appears witches and vampires were popular costumes this year. I did see a Super Mario, a frog, a princess, angel, and assorted horror-type costumes. It was a little cool but not bad. Below is a poem that I drafted 10/30/1998…for fun.

ALL HALLOW’s EVE

A giant phantom
floats across the sky,
its round-white heart
shines from the inside out.
Its breath tears the leaves
off the trees and sends them
scurrying across the road
like rats.
The spirit world awakens
and sends a wave of murmurs
through the empty streets
cresting toward my door,
shaking it from its hinges.
A shudder and a distant bell
echoes across the eerie night.
Voices are heard –
muffled behind creaking trees,
a chill enters the room –
the sound of footsteps
shuffle across the grass and crisp leaves.
No one is in sight.
Only shadows reaching out across the lawn
and up my front steps.
There is a knock at the door.

“Trick or Treat!”