All Hallows for Samhain

this is how it begins
we have purchased our candy
the porch light will be on 
and the kids will come begging
the little ghosts or tramps or whatever

when there were stone houses
or in the walled hovels even
the joint stools were warm at the hearth
and the cottage doors
they were left open the night long
that fell dark when the dead came home

that was until the fame
and who was left living then
if only the walking dead

and the turf fires went cold
the dead and the living dead
who was left to whisper their names
or tell them how much she loved them

and here in Illinois
it is cold and turning toward winter
and tonight at the old state capital
a political rally
where the past would come forward
this election year

well I have begun
kindled a heap of sticks
and what is it I am looking for
a place at the fire maybe