Every one hundred years, on the thirty-first of October,

They come, they come without care, they bring fear.

From another universe these things travel; they’ll be here.

For just one night, this night, they seek the human ones.

You’ll find them dressed in black robes with long, sharp poles.

Faces of big, round eyes that bulge out; very well can they see.

Noses long, as their sense of smell is quite strong, hide for this night.

Teeth jagged and a bit separated, work so well for their midnight eating.

Can you guess what those sharp poles are for? Don’t let them find you.

They like to eat; they’ll capture and collect for slaves, take you far away.

If you’re so unfortunate as to be seen, then you’ll get to meet them and see.

They’ll be coming for us on this century-old anniversary, ugly and mean.

Keith Garrett