Halloween Party
What shall we be
for the masquerade?
you asked from
the deep grinning dream.
I already had on my Valkyrie hat,
the one sewn with tattoos and blood.
You must do as you please, I replied
(tho this seemed to bring
(tho this seemed to bring
little illumination.)
There isn't much left
in the bag of tricks; the banker's
in the bag of tricks; the banker's
taken the vampire's mouth,
the real estate man is pandering the wig,
and the clown suit's loaned out
in the service of the nation--
but in the trunk
at the bottom
of the basement stair,
there's a kilt and a claymore,
there's a kilt and a claymore,
so allay your despair
and grow a pair,
if you're still
man enough to wear
a skirt.
You looked grim and no wonder,
You looked grim and no wonder,
(pondering no doubt
the smoked mirror legs)
absently fingering a long
absently fingering a long
sheet-white robe, a thorny circle,
a plastic cross.
You'll have to go by yourself,
You'll have to go by yourself,
I said
into my wandering hat,
if you're thinking of
wearing
that.
that.
~October 2015
posted for real toads
Image: Masked woman, author unknown, via the internet. No copyright infringement intended.
I really like the sting of what really remained in the bottom after the banker and real estate man had picked the best.. but I actually thought that bankers didn't needed the vampire paraphernalia.. they might be scary enough I thought..
ReplyDeletethere's a kilt and a claymore,
ReplyDeleteso allay your despair
and grow a pair,
if you're still
man enough to wear
a skirt...
This made me laugh, Hedge... Loved it, all the way to the ironic parting shot.
"and the clown suit's loaned out/in the service of the nation": That has to be my favorite bit. An oddly funny read, with social commentary and the macabre dressed up as something ordinary in your verse. Loved it. :-)
ReplyDelete-HA
Ha! Much the cool, lady.
ReplyDeleteA lot of fun, Joy--I think that some of those that pride themselves on pairs, would do better if they could imitate skirts--then we have the problem of those wearing skirts (like your governor) that seem to need to prove their pairs! Very subtle pokes here and vivid laughs (or tears.) Thanks. k.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how the outfits were loaned out...truly a clown, I agree. The costume was a fine choice.
ReplyDeleteDate night with the ghostly Paramour for a Halloween party—what to wear, what to bear, bare? It's not like we dudes have any gift for this--backward ballcap and red imp pecker the default choices. The day had put the season out of joint; the usual costumes have been appropriated (howlingly true here); but that's not to say the wicker riot still can't burn, eh? Kilt and claymore, indeed, painted blue and a case of you ... That's the spirit ... five snapping bone phalanges.
ReplyDeleteThis was rather a more somber poem till I applied Michael's words to it, and then the party went, with predictable results, to DC--but sometimes it's fun to tell the emperor he has no kilt. ;_) Thanks, B. I am wondering if there is enough popcorn in the world to get us through this election season.
DeleteVery sly, snarky, but true observation of the world today.
ReplyDelete!! My first read, and there's the grin and grim I was hoping for, in equal measure. Had me chuckling and clucking, yes, yes (especially the lines already pointed out) until the final laugh of that. Thanks for this, Hedge ~
ReplyDeleteCouldn't contain my grin
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to go by yourself,
ReplyDeleteif you're thinking of
wearing that.
Great punch-line Joy! Yes, sometimes the choice of 'dress' leaves one wondering on their sense of imagination!
Hank
You sly thing. This is timely, darkly funny, and in the end, alarming.
ReplyDeleteThis is a Halloween feast... several courses. Love the speaker's costume, the way the others have been distributed, and the last line... well, it made me raise an eyebrow, nod, and grin. Thank you for the yum!
ReplyDelete