'Twas the night before Halloween, when all through the house

All creature were stirring, even the mouse;

The jack-o-lantern’s were placed by the chimney with care,

In hopes that Death's Spirit soon would be there;

The children were dressed in costume galore,

While visions of sugar-eyeballs danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'witch hat, and I with my axe,

Had just settled down for a scary movie marathon,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my grave  to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature gargoyle, and eight scary wolfs,

With a scary old driver, so dark and dreary,

I knew in a moment it must be the Death's Spirit

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he moaned, and screamed, and called them by name;

"Now, Skull! now, Damien! now, Elvira and Darth!

On, Hannibal! on Lucifer! on, Scar face and Shadow!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!