One of my favorite times of the year is approaching: Halloween!
This is one of the few times when I step into my ghoulish analysis of Halloween poetry. This leaves room for a scream here, a squint there, a howl beyond, and prickling skin goose-bumps everywhere!
One of the best used literary tools used by poets in Halloween poetry is rhyme. The following poem has a rhyming scheme of abcb throughout all stanzas. The poet also uses repetition, which lends to the errie tone. There is use of alliteration that sets the atmosphere for even those who might not be so daunted by the spirits of Halloween.
Hallowe'en by Olive Beaupre Miller
It's nice to be little teeny, tiny bit scared
When Hallowe'en time comes round,
And to feel the shiver-shivers and the creepy-creep-creeps
And you heart going pound, pound, pound.
Oh, a-walking up the street in the dark, dark, dark,
There's a jack-o-lantern grinning like an imp.
There's an ugly old witch with an ugly false face
Hobbling off on a cane-limp, limp!
Read the rest of the poem at http://holidays.huddlenet.com/halloween/...
Another wonderful literary element used by the poet is imagery and personification. Readers become face to face with "Jack-o-lantern grinning." Readers also hear the witch "hobbling off on a cane-limp,limp!
In the following poem, imagery grabs the reader in the first line and carries the reader wherever the Phantom wanders. Let's get first hand experience:
Phantom by Beverly McLoughland
Night slips, a Phantom,
Through the trees
Into the city park,
Sits upon the swing,
Goes gliding,
Softly, into dark-
Climbs up the lonely ladder
Of the silver slide-
In the white and silent moonlight,
Takes a ride-
Swings high and low
And wraps around
The gleaming monkey bars,
Fills the dark and empty spaces
Bright with stars.
http://www.jeannepasero.com/phantom.html
Without mentioning but once the Phantom, readers share in a spooky playtime in the park, well beyond dark. The poet emulates the feelings and motions through the imagery of a playground, empty at night. Readers can almost feel the sway of the swing, being pushed by Phantom friend. Readers almost hear the shared laughter while slipping down the slide. Moreover, readers climbing the monkey bars sense the Phantom's presence is eternal as glittering stars are seen on Halloween!
The next poem lightens the mood somewhat. The rhythm of the poem conjures memories of skipping alongside vampires, firemen, clowns, hobos, witches, black cats and bats, ghosts, and of course, goblins. That is until the fact appears that goblins too, are evermore!
A Goblin (anonymous)
A goblin lives in our house,
in our house, in our house,
This is one of the few times when I step into my ghoulish analysis of Halloween poetry. This leaves room for a scream here, a squint there, a howl beyond, and prickling skin goose-bumps everywhere!
One of the best used literary tools used by poets in Halloween poetry is rhyme. The following poem has a rhyming scheme of abcb throughout all stanzas. The poet also uses repetition, which lends to the errie tone. There is use of alliteration that sets the atmosphere for even those who might not be so daunted by the spirits of Halloween.
Hallowe'en by Olive Beaupre Miller
It's nice to be little teeny, tiny bit scared
When Hallowe'en time comes round,
And to feel the shiver-shivers and the creepy-creep-creeps
And you heart going pound, pound, pound.
Oh, a-walking up the street in the dark, dark, dark,
There's a jack-o-lantern grinning like an imp.
There's an ugly old witch with an ugly false face
Hobbling off on a cane-limp, limp!
Read the rest of the poem at http://holidays.huddlenet.com/halloween/...
Another wonderful literary element used by the poet is imagery and personification. Readers become face to face with "Jack-o-lantern grinning." Readers also hear the witch "hobbling off on a cane-limp,limp!
In the following poem, imagery grabs the reader in the first line and carries the reader wherever the Phantom wanders. Let's get first hand experience:
Phantom by Beverly McLoughland
Night slips, a Phantom,
Through the trees
Into the city park,
Sits upon the swing,
Goes gliding,
Softly, into dark-
Climbs up the lonely ladder
Of the silver slide-
In the white and silent moonlight,
Takes a ride-
Swings high and low
And wraps around
The gleaming monkey bars,
Fills the dark and empty spaces
Bright with stars.
http://www.jeannepasero.com/phantom.html
Without mentioning but once the Phantom, readers share in a spooky playtime in the park, well beyond dark. The poet emulates the feelings and motions through the imagery of a playground, empty at night. Readers can almost feel the sway of the swing, being pushed by Phantom friend. Readers almost hear the shared laughter while slipping down the slide. Moreover, readers climbing the monkey bars sense the Phantom's presence is eternal as glittering stars are seen on Halloween!
The next poem lightens the mood somewhat. The rhythm of the poem conjures memories of skipping alongside vampires, firemen, clowns, hobos, witches, black cats and bats, ghosts, and of course, goblins. That is until the fact appears that goblins too, are evermore!
A Goblin (anonymous)
A goblin lives in our house,
in our house, in our house,
The copyright of the article Poetry Treats and Tricks! in American Poetry Review is owned by . Permission to republish Poetry Treats and Tricks! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
