Families are rethinking Halloween this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Is Trick or Treating safe? Is it even happening? What’s the best way see friends? In this week’s Poetry Friday segment, Amy Fuller and her 9 year old daughter Emmerson discuss their game plan for Halloween night – from costumes to hand sanitizer – and they bring us a spooky poetic duet.
Emmerson: Well, I’m going to be for Halloween a cheerless cheerleader. What are you going to be?
Amy: I don’t know. A mommy to a cheerless cheerleader and a little devil boy.
Emmerson: Oooo, Mom! I know what you should be.
Amy: What?
Emmerson: A devil-slash-cheerless cheerleader!
Amy: I could get some Pom Poms and some devil horns.
Emmerson: Yeah! And, like, a red cape or something?
Amy: Ok. I can do that. That’s a really good idea.
Emmerson: Yay.
Amy: I wasn’t going to dress up, but that’s a good idea.
Emmerson: Ok.
Amy: We’re going to hang out with our little circle of people and just kind of feel everything out. Usually, we make a big ordeal of it, but this year we’re just going to kind of wing it.
Emmerson: Bring hand sanitizer.
Amy: Our rules is that we have to keep our 6 feet, like we always do.
Emmerson: Wait. Then how do they give out the candy?
Amy: We don’t know what’s going to happen.
Emmerson: Maybe we need a butterfly net.
Amy: That’s a really great idea. That’s an awesome idea. Which poem do you want to read?
Emmerson: This poem is called It’s Halloween.
It’s Halloween! It’s Halloween!
The moon is full and bright
And we shall see what can’t be seen
On any other night.
Skeletons and ghosts and ghouls.
Grinning goblins fighting duels.
Werewolves rising from their tombs.
Witches on their magic brooms.
In masks and gown
We haunt the street
And knock on doors
For Trick or Treat.
Tonight we are
The King and Queen.
For oh, tonight
It’s Halloween
(Music: Cemetery Waltz, bt Two Steps From Hell)
Poetry Friday is produced by KNAU's Gillian Ferris. If you have an idea for a segment, drop her an email at Gillian.Ferris@nau.edu.
