The series has brought us from dress-up to crunchy leaves to remembering the dead, the full gamut of the season. Hasn’t it been fun? Contributor Series 2: Candy and Spirits Days of the Dead By Cassie Premo Steele I lay out plates of food for the dead and circle their pictures there, to welcome back […]

(Image courtesy of Manny Beltran)Contributor Series 2: Candy and Spirits La Llorona, The Weeping Woman By Ray Sharp Mis hiiiiiiiiiijos, mis pobreciiiiiiiiiiiitos! My chiiiiiiiiiiiildren, my poooooor babies! The anguished cry from the arroyo pierces the moonless night, a wailing that emanates from beyond the beyond, foul ghost-breath on the scruff of my neck, stink of mud […]

Contributor Series 2: Candy and Spirits Greedy Ghouls By Karen Schindler Don’t open the door Don’t answer the phone Pretend all together That no one is home Evil does stalk The sidewalk tonight Amongst tiny beggars Sweets their delight They come one by one Or all in a rush They ring the doorbell And wait […]

Contributor Series 2: Candy and SpiritsJersey BoysBy Bryan Borland For laughs we dressedas Jersey girls, gaudy wigs,earrings that pinched andBon Jovi shirts, running between buildingsas the cold weather shook offits costumed summer with confidenceand I chased you for warmth.We rang doorbells, a little oldto be beggars in your sister’s clothes,our bags swallowing candywe poured on […]

Contributor Series 2: Candy and SpiritsJack’s DemiseBy Kim Klugh Our orange globewith carved-out facelike a lantern flickeredfrom its porch step placeJack glowed at duskthrough his jagged grinhis visage haunted from deep withinhe cast his spell on passers-by who boldlylooked him in the eye. October’s days are nearly toldleaves fly about, the spark’s grown coldsince the […]