All Hallows Eve

October wanes,

Witches prowl,

Owls hoot,

Dogs howl,

Bats hide,

Mice hurry,

Toads quiver,

Spiders scurry,

Cauldrons bubble,

Witches dance,

Cats wail,

Wizards prance.

Spells are chanted,

Mystic - frightening,

Rumbling thunder,

Forked lightning,

Flashes over

Wild skies,

Broomsticks shudder

As witches fly.

Pointed hats,

Sharp chins,

Hooked noses,

Evil grins,

Pumpkin lanterns

Spells complete,

All Hallows Eve

TRICK OR TREAT?

Betty Robertson, Hipswell.

Halloween

It was the night when witches and goblins and ghosts

Ride on their broomsticks and hide behind posts.

A night when sensible folk stay at home

And only the foolish would venture to roam.

I wandered alone down a country lane

Heedless of darkness, of wind or rain.

The moon riding madly was giving no light

To lighten the gloom of that Halloween night.

Suddenly out of the darkness, a gleam

Followed at once by an ear-splitting scream.

And there in the shadows a dark form I saw

Like a demon at large in the regions below.

My heart it was pounding with a horrible fear

As this menacing object advanced and drew near.

The scene made more weird by the hoot of an owl

It was Simon, my tom cat, on his nightly prowl.

Betty Hogg, Leyburn.

Mercy Mission

If man were meant to fly

God would have given him wings.

Now man flies where eagles dare

with Stealth and F-18s.

But God had great foresight,

he made the angels first.

Now we need the holy squadrons

to bring us peace on Earth.

Judith Lesley Marshall, Richmond.

My Sixth Birthday

When I am six on Thursday,

I'll fly up to the moon.

I'll climb the highest mountain,

Then slide down on a spoon.

I'll swim across the ocean

And talk to all the fish.

That's what I would like to have

For my sixth birthday wish.

I'll eat ice cream all the time,

For breakfast, lunch and tea.

I'll open all the presents

Kind people give to me.

I'll sing a thousand songs

And dance all through the night.

I'll wear a crown and a diamond ring

And a wedding dress in white.

I'll drive my daddy's car.

Go on an ocean cruise.

I'll take all of my friends

There'll be no time to lose.

I'll ride upon a horse

Right up the tallest tree

But I will have to make quite sure

That I'm home in time for tea!

Ciaran Jasper, Class 1, Sedgefield.

God Bless America

The culprit, elusive, evil, devil supreme

Set out to wreck the American Dream

On a September morning, clear the sky

How could they think, so many would die?

Different nations, colours and creeds

Victims all, of the worst kind of deeds

Towers of steel, indestructible they thought

Terror and grief to thousands brought.

Policemen, firemen, volunteers all

Reduced to tears, watching them fall

With bloodied hands they tried to save

Only they could, from that terrible grave.

The voice of a singer rose up loud

God Bless America, we'll not be bowed

We'll rise up again from rubble and dust

Punishment promised, swift and just.

J Everitt, Lanchester.

Our Tilly

A Beautiful Rescue Dog

You came to us one Saturday morn.

Your face was so forlorn.

In your eyes there was such sadness,

We so wanted to fill them with gladness,

We took you home to be our own

Hoping your fears would soon be flown

You learned to play and smile,

And loved to walk for many miles.

We grew together as the years went by,

But we knew we couldn't keep you even though we tried

We hope you are in a beautiful place

And we will count the seconds 'til once again we see your face.

Joyce Brooks, Hurworth.

A Lover's Lament

Go with the flow, sail with the tide,

Do all the things you must do.

Live life in the fast lane, move on a high plane,

But don't bother me when you do.

'Cos I like it slow, I don't want to go,

I simply prefer to relax,

And if it's too much, you can still keep in touch,

You can write, phone, e-mail or fax.

You don't want me any more, I'm left on the floor,

And all 'cos I had no ambition.

I think you're just sore, you've left open the door,

'Cos your schemes may not reach full fruition.

But take off my love, fly high up above,

Claw, scrape and fight to the top.

I hope you succeed, good luck and God speed,

Remember it's me that's the flop.

And while you're away, what can I say,

I think I'll just have me a beer.

'Cos my guiding star said: "Turn left for the bar,

As you may not find it so dear."

There's just one more thing, should you give me a ring.

To say that you may just return.

You'll find me right here, as I still love you dear,

As my heart hasn't learned not to yearn.

Derek Hamilton, Peterlee.

Sunderland

Sits proud, transported thought into actions successfully

Upon the banks of the Wear, man has launched quality

New dawns breaking, confident of the challenge ahead

Draws from reserves, river flows into the ocean bed

Europe's fines, wheels a future most enterprising

Restored, fast gaining a reputation and rising

Leisure impressive, have you been? Have you seen the light?

Art fan, sculpture trail, the Empire to finish the night

National Glass Centre, Mowbray Gardens, a class of their own

Dash to the Bridges, bigger, better, my how it has grown.

John Neal, Chester-le-Street.

The Demon Drink

Come on gang, let's go to the pub

And all get paraletic

You see I won the Pools today

And my wife don't even know it.

So we sat in the bar all night

And drank and drank, then asked for more

I don't remember falling down

But somehow now, I'm on the floor.

When we go home to our wives tonight

They'll all go mad and start a fight

The wife thinks I'm broke, but I'm no fool

She doesn't know I've won the pools.

But now it's morning, oh dear me

I don't know what happened, did something hit me?

My head does ache, my mouth is dry

And I still have some money left, so let's have another try.

I don't think I'll go to work today

My head's so bad. Oh, Oh, the pain

But let's go out again tonight lads

Let's all get drunk again.

S Myers, Richmond.

Why?

Do we sing roses are red

Although they are of many hues

Or, paint the sky bright blue

Forgetting its frequent frowns

of gloomy grey

Or, salute the sea as splendidly

supreme

Ignoring its cunning cruelty

Or, welcome the rain for refreshing

and restoring

Though it can lead to deluge

and destruction.

Why, do we call ourselves humans

When we do so many inhuman things?

Aruna Joss, Barnard Castle.

October 2001

It breaks my heart to see

Tanks in the streets of Bethlehem.

Bullet holes in the church of the Nativity

Where lay the Babe

Blessed by the angels

Bringing peace to men.

God is not smiling now

And the angels weep

O'er Bethlehem.

Mary Ellery, Peterlee