James Pack

October 31, 2020October 22, 2020

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.

October 30, 2020November 7, 2020

Hellpets – Part 5

Read Part 4

“What’s the point of this?” Hinn said.

“It’s the best way to watch humans without them knowing.” I said.

“Do you do a lot of watching through the window?”

“It passes the time. And usually your human assignment doesn’t bother you.”

“Usually?”

“Don’t ask.”

“Okay. What’s with that guy on the corner?”

“He’s smoking and watching people.”

“I didn’t know humans were on fire.”

“What? No! He’s smoking a cigarette. That thing in his mouth.”

“Oh. Why?”

“It’s a thing some humans do.”

“What’s he doing now? Is he following that guy?”

“Ooo nice. He’s a pickpocket.”

“What’s that?”

“A thief. He just snatched that guy’s wallet out of his pocket.”

“A pickpocket? That diabolical fiend! I’m taking his soul to Hell.”

“Woah! Relax. Put those teeth away. You don’t take anyone until they’re dead and you can’t kill them.”

“Then what do we do? Just watch all this happen?”

“Yep.”

“That’s so…boring!”

“You get used to it.”

“How long have you been doing this?”

“About 200 human years.”

“That’s a long time. So, you’re like a human expert.”

“I guess. Humans aren’t hard to figure out. They’re all pretty dumb.”

“And you never collected a soul?”

“No. That’s your job. I just watch them until they die.”

“All the souls I collected were already dead?”

“Yep.”

“This is the worst job ever. I need action. I need excitement.”

“Watch TV.”

“What’s that?”

“It’ll teach you about humans while I take a nap.”

“How does it do that?”

“Watch.”

“Whoa. Humans are inside that box?”

“Wow. You’re dumb. Let’s try something else.”

“What’s this?”

“It’s a cartoon. You’ll like it It has a dog that talks to humans. They solve mysteries.”

“That’s so cool.”

Praise Moloch. That should distract him for a while.

Read Part 6

October 30, 2020September 29, 2020

Flashback Friday Poetry: The Ostrich and the Canary

“an interesting place to hold a race”
the Weasel said to the Badger
“i recall the dare of the Tortoise and Hare
which took place on this very track
but who will win in this battle of wits
the Ostrich or the Canary
the Canary can fly like wind in the sky
but the Ostrich can move swiftly
it’s tough to decide but i have my eye
on the Ostrich and his long legs
so will you take my bet? you will regret
that’s the fastest Ostrich in town”
the Badger smiled, “you are no liar
that Ostrich can move fast on his feet
the Canary, however, is quite clever
he will have a trick up his sleeve”

the Canary and Ostrich had trained for days
and now the race was underway
“we’ll have a good, clean race now” the Bulldog said
they say cheaters get fixed in the end
the Announcer Yak’s voice boomed through the speakers
“the Ostrich has left us in dust
and the canary soared off with a large gust
it’s anyone’s race this match is tough”
soon the contenders were away from the crowd
it was just the two of them now
twenty minutes passed and still no words spoken
concentration would not be broken
the hatred they had grown for one another
they wouldn’t look at each other
quarrels and arguments broke out every night
this race would decide who was right

the said conflict occurred a fort-night ago
they decided that very night
the question of who was right would be answered
at the place the Hare lost his Will
the mighty finish line was upon them now
their feud would end in just a few feet
the crowd was screaming as they were neck and neck
who would win this dirty, Fowl bet
they moved so fast the world around them was slow
feathers and dust left on the track
as they crossed the line, the Ostrich stretched his neck
he won literally by a nose
the Canary skulked away in his defeat
the Ostrich chased down the small bird
“looks like i won the battle this time old friend
i just don’t remember why that is”

Early poetry from James. From the poetry collection Pariah Bound: The Lonesome Poetry.