The 31st of October

As the sun sets
and night creeps in
the howls that we fear
grow ever near

The evening of dread
is upon us now
as the shadows come to life
to take what is theirs

What started centuries ago
as a somber religious tradition
honoring souls long dead
has become corrupted
beyond all Earthly recognition

So now every All Hallows Eve
the hungry demons
in an array of clever disguises
pound on our barricaded doors
demanding sweet sustenance
in keeping with the scourge
of modern consumerism

We try to put the horde on ignore
by cowering in darkness
but their ravenous persistence
rules the night
as guilt forces us
to open our homes
and allow these little terrors
to devour and pillage
what was rightfully ours 

Now those of you enamored
by the tyranny of cuteness
will no doubt criticize
my sharing reluctance
as an act of selfishness
but while you are busy exchanging
the pics of this evening
I will be stuffing my face with sweets
for I am
and will always be
the toothless Grinch of Halloween