Reminiscence of a one-time goblin

When the world was young, and I a child

Both of us were pretty wild

We scared the nervous and the old

Behaving carelessly and bold

With menace, malice and mad valor

We gave the frail and wan new pallor.

We never feared the mossy trees,

Reptiles, spiders or disease

We didn't mind the call to war,

Blood or bile or wile or gore.

We didn't jump at sudden sounds

Or angry barks from sloppy hounds,

We horrified for help and health

With naught to love but fear itself.

Now ancient evil's smoothly worn

As dolorous new wrongs are born

As sorry fools grow rich and famous

When we charge, there's none can blame us.

When parents join in trick-or-treating

The wilderness must be retreating

And once the worst have been defrauded,

Our misbehavior is applauded.

So, middle-aged and tamed, you see,

We've come to fear longevity.

HALLOWED, p.p. Justified by fate.