Happy Halloween

Samhain/Halloween, oh how I looked forward to this day, but at this point, I've lost most of my interest.  I've stressed myself trying to find a way to work today, but in the end, I had to give up and take another vacation day. The buses are running on a limited schedule, and, of course, there are delays, and they are packed in like sardines. I cannot do it. I just can't move around like I once did.

It is hard to believe that just last week at this time that we'd been planning for a surprise Halloween party for our clients.  I'd bought my witch's hat and was all ready to have a wonderful time of it. The wind has been knocked out of me. 

The autumn wind—oh, hear it howl!

Without—October's tempests scowl,

As he troops away on the raving wind,

And leaveth dry leaves in his path behind,

Without—without,

Oh, hear him shout,

He is making the old trees bare;

Oh, cruel he,

To the old oak tree

And the garden hedges fair!

Oh, a wild and tyrannous king is he

When he playeth his frolic in every tree

And maketh the forest bare.

I know that a tyrannous rod is his

When he maketh the forest bow;

But worse, far worse are his tyrannies,

For he tameth the spirit now!

Without—without,

Oh, hear him shout,

October is going away!

'Tis the night—the night

Of the grave's delight,

And the warlocks are at their play;

Ye think that without

The wild winds shout,

But no, it is they—it is they.

The Spirits are pulling the sere dry leaves

Of the shadowy forest down;

And howl the gaunt reapers that gather the sheaves,

With the moon o'er their revels to frown.

To-morrow ye'll find all their spoils in your path,

And ye'll speak of the wind and the sky;

But oh, could ye see them to-night in their wrath,

I ween ye'd be frenzied of eye!

by Arthur Cleveland Coxe