Halloweensies

The Trick-or-treaters are finally gone, and our wheelbarrow-filled-with-skulls-and-treats (do-it-yourself-virus-conscious) strategy seems to have worked well. But I just realized that the deadline is an hour away for the 10th annual Halloweensie Contest, and I actually wrote an entry for it!

So, in honor of Susan Hill’s tradition (and in hopes of qualifying for one of the amazing prizes donated for the cause of promoting children’s literature) I present a little story here for your perusal. I also invite you to hope over to https://susannahill.com/blog/ to submerge yourself in a world of creative responses to the challenge to write a story in 100 words or less that includes the three words “skeleton, creep, and mask” in any variation.

Too Much 

 “Too many leaves!” the old witch complains
 “And those caw-cawing crows creep louder than trains! 

 Leaves bury my toadstools. Noise hurts my ears,
 They’re ruining Halloween every year!”

 She conjures a spell in her rusty old kettle
 throwing in thorns and a handful of nettles.

 “Let’s turn them to pebbles, old Skeleton friend!
 Free those poor toadstools and let the noise end.

 I’ll get our masks, you stir while I go.”
 But Skeleton whispered her plot to the crows. 

 The birds flew away with their beaks full of leaves, 
 so the witch could enjoy her All Hallows Eve.

The Hallows

hallow (v.)

Old English halgian “to make holy, sanctify; to honor as holy, consecrate, ordain,” related to halig “holy,” from Proto-Germanic *hailagon (source also of Old Saxon helagon, Middle Dutch heligen, Old Norse helga), from PIE root *kailo- “whole, uninjured, of good omen” (see health). Used in Christian translations to render Latin sanctificare. Related: Hallowedhallowing.

hallow (n.)

“holy person, saint,” Old English haligahalga, from hallow (v.). Obsolete except in Halloween.

https://www.etymonline.com/word/hallow

Thoughts on this 31st of October

We reflect on the eve of the hallows of old
as leaves flurry past us, red, yellow and gold

the words of John Lewis, who walked with the wind,
call out for justice to truly begin

 echoes of hallowed ones join in the chorus,
summoned for healing 
they gather before us  

Even as time forges furrows in my brow, Halloween calls forth the eternal child, conjuring magical nights of sweetness and pretend. While the trees shed for winter in these northern climes, summer is blooming in my other hemisphere. I may have mixed feelings about the nature of the holiday and its excesses and sugary hangovers, but autumn always rests easy at the heart of my soul.

This year, with the word particularly challenged, I find solace in the nearby woods, and turn again to some of the final words that John Lewis shared with the world before his passing in July.

Walking with the wind and letting the words of John Lewis sink in

Maya’s Earth Magic

This little poem is my contribution to help celebrate the Official Kidlit #FallWritingFrenzy! hosted by @KaitlynLeann17 and @LydiaLukidis. Writers are challenged to select one of 15 images and use it to inspire a 200-word piece of writing. Visit the link to have fun browsing through the amazing variety of entries – picture book ideas, middle grade stories, and young adult fare to tickle every fancy!

Maya’s Earth Magic

Every Halloween night, when the owls are in flight,
and goblins and ghouls fill the air,
darkening streets thrill with monsters and treats,
but little witch Maya’s not there.

In the fields she will dance, past pumpkins she’ll prance,
her magical kettle aglow.
Transforming her troubles to green smoky bubbles,
she’ll light up the path as she goes.

In moonlight she’ll sing of the marvelous things,
once taught in the ancestor’s songs—
how souls can still greet us, and love us, and meet us
when we lift our voice for those gone.

The wind stirs beside her and even the spiders
will whisper of things that they loved—
the bright autumn leaves with clean air fit to breathe,
and the people below, stars above.

We give thanks to the earth for the way it gives birth
to bountiful harvests we reap.
We are thankful for seas, for lakes, rivers and trees,
and the wonders that swim in the deep.

Young Maya finds spaces twixt time and far places,
no matter the wind or the weather—
She’s an earth-loving witch who, with each careful stitch,
will weave broken worlds back together.

END

A shout out to thank @KaitlynLeann17 and @LydiaLukidis for working so tirelessy to help writers connect and support each other!

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Susanna Leonard Hill

Children's Author

Lydia Lukidis

Children's author

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