Month: October 2020

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Spooky Poetry: And the Moon Wept

The brick walls in the alley
Bounced the sound around
Echoes – 
The bullet was a .357 magnum
It released from a
Double action silver plated
Colt Python Revolver
A custom bullet
Pure silver – 
It spiraled through the air
Chased by flames and smoke
Fading into nothing
As the bullet advanced
Glistening with moonlight
The full moon so bright
Illuminating the alley
To look like day – 
The beast’s breath steamed
From the cold air
Out from its snarling mouth
It turned to see
The silver bullet approach
No time to move – 
The bullet spiraled into
Fur and muscle
No pain at first
Then the burning of
Hot metal on skin
The burning radiating out – 
As gunshot echoes dispersed
They were followed by
A howl or a scream
The beast fell back
Clutching its furry chest
With a thud –
The fur shrank away
Revealing a pale man
Steam rising from his face
He looked at the blood
On his hand and chest – 
He cracked with laughter
The laughs ricocheting 
Through the alley
Then it stopped
As fast as it started
The steam evaporated

Previously unpublished.

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National Magic Day

Today is not only Halloween but also National Magic Day and a part of National Magic Week. This holiday recognizes magicians and the performance art of stage and street magic. This includes escapology along with large stage productions or someone making a coin appear behind your ear. One of the most famous magicians in history was Harry Houdini with his daring escapes. He also performed stage magic. Visit the Houdini Museum in Scranton, PA. The Society of American Magicians sponsors National Magic Day. It started in 1938 as Houdini Day after they received permission from Mrs. Houdini. Houdini was born March 24, 1874 and died October 31, 1926.

I have dabbled in magic. With an education in theatre and entertainment, I enjoy watching performances and determining how tricks were accomplished. I prefer up close magic. This is often seen from street performers. These aren’t big productions just people skilled with a deck of cards or coins. I enjoy this kind of magic because it can be performed anywhere without extra preparation. I still know a couple of card tricks and maybe one day I’ll study more and become a better performer. For now, I’ll just enjoy the magic when I see it.

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Have a Blessed Samhain (Happy Halloween)

The modern Halloween we are all familiar with is a combination of celebrations for the Gaelic Festival Samhain and the Catholic celebrations of All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day. Samhain marked the end of the harvest and end of Summer and the beginning of the “darker half” of the year. It was believed that the boundaries between this world and the Otherworld were more easily crossed on this day. This meant the spirits or faeries could travel to our world. It was also believed that spirits of lost relatives would visit, and feasts were had in their remembrance.

Part of the festival involved people going door to door in costumes or disguises reciting versus in exchange for food. The disguises were intended to either appear as spirits or hide from spirits who crossed over to this world. Bonfires, rituals, and games were a big part of the festival as well. Neopagans and Wiccans now celebrate Samhain as a religious holiday. Samhain is part of the annual cycle of seasonal festivals called The Wheel of the Year. It is seen as a festival of darkness which is balanced at the opposite point of the wheel by the festival of Beltane, which is celebrated as a festival of light and fertility on May 1.

Here in Tucson, AZ we have the annual All Soul’s Procession celebrating the family members people have lost. However you celebrate; whether it’s remembering you lost family members, posing as a spirit and collecting offering from others, or enjoying a bonfire with friends, stay safe and have a blessed Samhain.