Back Then on Halloween

Back Then on Halloween

Back then on Halloween,
way back when on Halloween.

We wore cheap, plastic masks,
cartoon faces with holes for eyes,
held on with a metal-tipped elastic string
that your brother would pull and snap.

Back then on Halloween,
way back when on Halloween.

Suddenly we were transformed
into Casper the Friendly Ghost
or Mickey Mouse or an ugly monster thing
wearing a backwards baseball cap.

Back then on Halloween,
way back when on Halloween.

It was hard to breathe, and we could barely see,
but we couldn't wait to taste the treats 
our costume tricks would bring
after we canvassed the neighborhood lap.

Back then on Halloween,
way back when on Halloween.

We scuffed our way through the leaves,
following the trail of porch lights, 
glowing yellow on our street.

Back then on Halloween,
way back when on Halloween.

Ringing doorbells and knocking on doors,
we traipsed through the shadows,
begging our neighbors for something sweet.

Back then on Halloween,
way back when on Halloween.

After an hour or so we'd make our way back home
lugging our bags full of candy loot.
Mom would have hot cocoa waiting for us,
and we'd be glad to get in from the cold and off our feet.

Back then on Halloween,
way back when on Halloween.

We'd eat Halloween candy for days
trading Tootsie Rolls and bulls-eye caramels
and black and orange peanut butter kisses
for Mary Janes and Bit-o-Honeys.

Back then on Halloween,
way back when on Halloween.

We could hardly believe that all that candy was ours 
just for wearing something silly and saying,
"Trick-or-treat! Trick-or-treat! Trick-or-treat!"

Back then on Halloween,
way back when on Halloween.

One of my neighbors has this cute

scarecrow by their front steps.

Happy Halloween, everyone!