‘Twas the night before All Saints, and all through the House
and Senate: no movement, no clicking of mouse.
The ballots were set by the mailbox with care
in hopes that St. Obama soon would be there.
Incumbents were out on the trail and stump
hoping to find just one more hand to pump.
And I on the couch with a bowl full of candy
had settled in front of CNN with it handy.
When a knock at the door threw me out of my seat
my first inclination was to quickly retreat.
But I knew that I’d have to answer the door
maybe for a neighbor, perhaps someone poor.
Perhaps for a candidate, wanting my vote
or a wayward painter, offering a new coat.
When I cracked the door, my mind filled with wonder
my view of the world so soon tore asunder.
For there on my porch, where I had to play host
I came face to face with a real live ghost!
As I stared at it and my face flushed with heat
it raised up a bag and said “Trick or treat!”
Relieved from my fears, I turned for my bowl
all too happy to pay a sugary toll.
How could I have forgotten the point of this night?
Children begging from strangers under moonlight!
So imagine my fear as I turned back around
the door had been closed without making a sound!
All I could hear as my face turned to ash
was CNN talking today’s market crash.
But maybe the child had left for the streets
not wishing to wait any longer for sweets.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around
there was the ghost, no longer earthbound!
It was floating about, as light as the air
and you’d best believe that this gave me a scare.
There were no limbs a-dangle and no strings attached
in my whole life I’d seen nothing this matched.
Its eyes were dead empty and my heart skipped a tick
I had to admit that this was quite a trick.
Feeling faint and woozy and likely to choke
I barely could hear when it actually spoke.
“You know, do you not, this can’t go on any longer
a whole nation of people with their goal to monger.
“You steal and thieve while calling it ‘work’
you’re rude to each other and then go berserk.
“You assume, do you not, that you deserve it all
but blame everyone else whenever they fall.
“And your only true faith is in science and guns
while you mortgage the future and buy by the tons.
“And your only answer for the traps that you’ve set
is to accrue and accrue infinitely more debt.”
Before I even had the chance to reply
it soared up the chimney, away it did fly.
I wondered if others would be getting this warning
I wondered if I would wake up the next morning.
Then I heard an exclamation that made my mind riven
“Happy Halloween, you will not be forgiven!”
