Halloween

I remember when it was cold for Halloween

When an icy chill used to nip at my mittened fingers

Jack frost would creep into boots to freeze my socks and ice my toes

A big coat squeezed the breath from me beneath my costume - a sheet

And my breath condensed inside a ghostly plastic mask

I would hurry from house to house, knocking on doors whose steps were decorated with ghoulish glowing pumpkins

Collecting paper bags of toffee, home grown apples, pennies

Until my knees were knocking from the chill and my watch sent me home at 8 o'clock

It isn't cold for Halloween any more

Children parade flimsy costumes until late

Apples are no longer welcome and pennies have become pounds

As every door is pounded and eggs are thrown in the name of tradition

I preferred the cold

I enjoy the memory of a cup of hot chocolate warming my hands

Sat by the fire with tingling toes, working my jaw, on home made treacly treasure