All Hallows’ Eve
It had been a dreary sort of day beneath low, grey skies of late Autumn; the last day of October - All Hallows’ Eve - Samhain in the old agricultural calendar. The Jackdaw coming in early against a sullen afterglow, fall silent. Leaves rustle beneath my feet, patterning my path; before a gust of wind swirls them around, dumping them in some forgotten corner of the churchyard 1. The clocks already gone back, the past week; the evenings drawing in. It’ll be dark soon ...
evening wind
colors of the day
blown away
© Jane Reichhold 2000.
The wind drops. The hunters (blue) moon shining through thinning cloud brings a distinct chill. Not a night to be out. No trick or treats this year. I hurry past the churchyard; the ancient twisted yews casting spooky shadows across my path. I shiver. Childhood fears not forgotten ...
all hallows’eve
a barn owl haunts
the churchyard
The calls of the Barn Owl follow me. The single lamp lighting my way splutters and pops as I pass; the candle flickering in the parlour window suddenly snuffed out. Lost in the darkness again ...
Footnotes
- The church, a 19th century grade II listed building is dedicated to St Deinol. It was rebuilt on the site of much older one, and is in an isolated position on a rise above the marshes. It stands in a churchyard and active cemetery surrounded by a roughly coursed rubblestone wall, with just a few cottages nearby. The entrance is guarded by some old yews reputedly some 2000 years or more old.
Playing around a bit in Photoshop to try and create a spooky effect! If you look hard enough you can just make out the slate roof of the nave with its western bellcote (mostly hidden by a large Sycamore). To the left of the picture is one of the old Yew trees. The rather shadowy porch is to the right of the ‘burning bush’! Along the path from the porch underneath the Yews (not shown in the photo) is an old Victorian gas lamp …
Beautiful depth to this and such a contrast to spooky mania.
That’s what I was hoping would come across. Thank you Georgina.
There is a calmness in the prose and the haiku, but it still conveys a creepy feeling. I can imagine a person rushing away from the churchyard as an Owl calls him, wanting him to come back.
I had it in my head that the person was a ghost!
I thought that the ghost was close to the narrator, but read the last lines again and realized it. Thanks for pointing it out.
It started off that way I think but when I did the last lines I changed my mind!
Excellent writing Clive. Your spooky picture is very atmospheric. I suspect like me you’re not one for the commercialisation of this time of year! I lit some candles in the garden and remembered those who are no longer with us. It’s not morbid but respectful and grateful.
You’re right Ashley I hate the commercialisation around this time of year – I especially hate ‘trick or treat’. But I enjoyed writing this subtly layered piece and playing around with the photo. Thank you.
I enjoyed your All Hallow’s Eve post, Clive! I would really love to see your barn owl haiku converted to hokku and displayed in the Hokku Garden. Please think about it!! I know others who would love that, also.
The other night I heard a great horned owl very close to our backyard deck, and I was actually scared to go out there, thinking of their razor-sharp talons with the blood of a squirrel dripping off of them (possibly, ha)! They are the reason why I don’t allow our chihuahua-sized dog out after dark.
Your Great Horned Owl sounds scary!And you are very welcome to convert this to hokku.
[…] This late autumn hokku was composed by Clive Bennett. It’s haiku version can be found here. […]
[…] This late autumn hokku was composed by Clive Bennett. […]
beautifully atmospheric, Clive!
Thank you, Clare! I’m glad you liked it.