Halloween

I look at reminds me of her and how she used to be. I've taken after her, in my own way. Over there's the willows we planted for you and Harold Dean. They'll go on longer than Mally or me. Someday strangers'11 be living here and they won't know what they mean, who planted 'em or why, but I like knowing that some piece of me is still here. I can read this yard like a history book. Mally's irises, your aunt Nancy's hollyhocks she give me afore she moved to Illinois, Lyd Simm's burning bush. And my willow trees. I like knowing there'll be something of me here planted in this yard after I'm planted up on the ridge aside your pa. Lord, listen to me ramble on ... . Next headline I'll be reading to your rhamaw'll be 'Woman Loses her Mind Breaking Beans.' I'll put us on a mess for dinner. You'll stay, won't you?" "Yeah, I'll stay, Mother." "I'm glad. Better see if you mamaw's awake. She gets mad if I let her miss 'Divorce Court.'" Halloween A skiff of snow paints autumn's field, yellow and orange leaves paint its trees. Gray witches straddle brooms, cross the moon and "shoemake" pods, dance like goblins along fence rows and wait for Halloween. And I, too, wait with bated breath. Dogs stood hang-tailed; cats yelled from backyard fences, and outhouses burned to make light for the devil's conclave where witches gathered, to bid him welcome. Children, dressed for their night out in baggy clothes to look a fright, who've wandered streets of towns and villages and knocked on doors of palatial mansions, bags opened, have said their plaintive plea, and have departed. But I, I buried beneath this stone, have overslept. For the Best Friend You are the darkest friend I have known. You beat circles beneath the Mulberry Tree and wait for the fruit to swell and drop. When it does fall, I will be sleeping, safe from its purple stain. When I awake I will run to Mulberry Meadow and find the fruit gone. I will tell the neighbors: It was the blackbirds, those noisy thieves. I don't want anyone to know that I alone slipped the gate to see if you'd run through. —Paul Lee -Mattie F. Quesenberry 44 ...