[SIZE=7]The Birds of Halloween

© 2010 by Chris Campbell


The nights of October were beginning to chill
And, the birds in her flock were hard to keep still.
For All Hallow's Eve was drawing so close,
And the young, little birds would see monsters and ghosts!

The Queen-Bird, herself, a beautiful MaCaw,
Was careful to limit the "frights" that they saw.
Halloween night was the time they all loved,
the ghosts and the ghouls and the witches above.

They gathered around the Queen-Bird that night,
Feeling warm, safe and sound by the fireplace light.
The little birds sat before their beautiful Queen
Who told them the story of last Halloween.

"As you remember, we were homeless and cold,
our feathers were ragged, but our hearts were still bold.
We found this great house, and made it our own,
Making it better, with wood and with stone.

We thought it was haunted, that All Hallow's Eve,
By the noises it made, by the rustle of leaves,
But you learned very quick, there was nothing to fear,
except what your minds make you see and hear."

The younger birds giggled with nervous delight,
at the Queen-bird's re-telling of last year's plight.
Homeless and hungry, that last Halloween,
With no hope in sight, except their wonderous Queen.

The queen-Bird continued, "Remember the night
We came into this house remember the fright,
of the sounds that you heard, of the sights that you saw,
That turned out to be really nothing at all.

I loved you all then as if I was your mother,
Yes, we were frightened, but we had each other.
We found this house, our home and our dream,
Yet, we didn't expect it to make us scream!"

"We flew through the halls of this gothic estate,
With thirty-three rooms, each one you could take,
And, each had a tree for sleep and for rest,
A tree of your own, this house is the best!

Now, once again, the "Witching Hour" nears,
And if you listen close, the HOWLINGS you'll hear!
Of Goblins and Were-wolves and small things that creep,
The horrible things that keep you from sleep!

The little birds huddled together from fear,
As the Queen-Bird noticed one with a tear.
"Please, don't be afraid, my little one,
This story's not real, this story's for fun.

She picked up the chick, and held him so tight,
The others gathered closer to the fireplace light.
Their shadows were dancing on the far wall,
But, she didn't notice. No, not at all.

She was holding her charge, stroking his cheek,
She was rocking him gently....gently to sleep.
Then, all was quiet, and still was the air,
And suddenly light filled the room with a flair!

Her orphans were startled, and looked all around,
not daring to move, or make any sound.
They stood for a moment, then one of them said,
"What have we to fear? It's all in our head!!"

"This Halloween night, is what we all wanted,
to be frightened and tricked by this house that's haunted!"
Just then the door flew open wide
and all of the birdies then tried to hide.

A form in the doorway that they could not see,
for they covered their eyes, oh, what could it be?
"Trick or Treat," said someone with a sweet voice and laugh.
"Is anyone home? Any candy to have?"

The Queen-Bird still holding her sleeping young chick,
Said, "Come in, little Witch. Put down your broomstick."
The Queen had seen this young bird before,
The orphaned young parrot, now at her door.

The young birds, now fearless, rushed to her side,
"You've found the right place!!" They cried!
"Eat candy and cake, some fruit and some seed,
All that you want, all that you need!"

The Queen-Bird gazed up, and said with a tear,
"Thank you, Dear God, she found her way here."
As she carried her babe, and then closed the door,
She said, "Thank you, again. We have one more!"