On the Day of the Dead

We have these Autumn festivals in my area all through October.  A big one is the Catoctin Colorfest, which is held every year around the second weekend in October. The weather is good, but all the trees are still green.  In fact, our trees  changed almost overnight on October 31.

Today is Saturday, and it's All Souls Day, the Day of the Dead.  I decided to post two haunted poems that I admire.

Julie Kane

DULLAHAN

with pity for all living things
being chased by a ghoul on a horse
with its head tucked under its arm
consider the plight of the rider

consigned to blank nights on a horse
or behind the wheel of an automobile
consider the plight of the rider
cruising the potholed streets of your city

headless inside her automobile
sheer muscle memory steering her home
cruising the potholed streets of your city
dullahan, headless Irish fairy

dronelike, mindless, riding home
you may have sensed her, late one night
dullahan, headless Irish fairy
caught up in repetition

you may have sensed her, many nights
with your shamed red face in your hands
caught up in repetition
with pity for all living things

 Susan Elbe

 DAY OF THE DEAD

I put a bone-white candle in the window,
a welcome, but they already know the way.

I'm not afraid. After all, the Aztecs held
there are two worlds—
one of the living, one of the dead.

This world, a dream that comes and goes.

They are always close, asking to be warmed,
asking for a scrap of meat,
begging me to not forget them.

The cold smoke of their voices whispers
at the pane, a dark nomadic alphabet
in an unfamiliar tongue
I've only just begun to understand.