Medieval Halloween
All hallows eve is nigh,
a night of ghoul and ghost,
of witches and a hearse.
The brave of you may boast
that you have seen it worse.
All hallows eve is nigh,
the children fear the dark,
and quiver in their bed.
A Jack o' Lantern mark
that he is far from dead.
All hallows eve is nigh,
a werewolf howls outside,
and vampires hunt food.
The devil wants his bride,
and show an awful mood.
All hallows eve is nigh,
and night seems to be through,
outside you hear a scream.
Scurry up from bed, you
just know it was no dream.
© Jim T. Henriksen
October 31st, 2005
Author notes
This is the story of how people experienced Halloween in the Middle Ages, inspired by the medieval live roleplay game I was at this weekend. It is written as a Monchielle, my own style. Look it up on my page if you want the rules of this style. 
A little explanation to some of the words... Nigh is the same as close or near, hearse is a wagon for bringing the dead to the cemetary, and Jack o' Lantern is the same as a carved pumpkin with a candle inside. Hope that made you a bit wiser. 
Hope you enjoy it!
Written October 31st, 2005
In a list
A contest entry
- Halloween Warm-up by Tom The Invader.
450 points, ended September 12, 2008, 10 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 49 of 49
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This is certainly different. I like the origionality. Well done!
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Thanks. I like to be different! Thanks for comment and applause!
Jim
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Hi, Tracey! I am glad you enjoyed reading this poem. Thanks for the comment, I appreciate it a lot! Jim
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great
Wow!!! This is really good, Thank you for explaining some words, was going to get my dictionary out!!! I enjoyed this read, something different from the usual halloween poems. Love the picture!!! Thank you for sharing this... keep writing you have talent
Tracey!!! Happy Halloween -
Hi, Shahrzad! You know, I have actually often wishes I was born in the Middle Ages... we live in a time where there is no mystery and magic anymore, and that makes the world a sad place... Thanks for a wonderful comment, and a heartwarming applause! Jim
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hmmm...I'm quivering with fear here. I'm glad that I wasn't in that time.
Shahrzad -
Hi, amateurpoetess! I don't recall writing on my page that this form was made by mixing verses and kyrielle, but it's a very good explanation. I am glad you like it, and you are more than welcome to add me to your favorites! Thanks for asking, and thanks for the comment! Jim
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Thanks for the comment, and the applause, Jenn! Well, Halloween is over, but the season will come back in a year... read it again then, and it will be perfect. Jim
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I've never read this form before and I quite enjoyed it...I like the subject, too. I wish I had read this a bit earlier, though . Excellent for the season!
jenn -
Thanks for the comment, and the applause, genielassie! I am glad you like the poem and the style. Jim
Edited on Nov 10, 9:38 because ''. -
I'm unfamiliar with the form but I like it This poem is smooth, rhythmic and very much in the spirit of Halloween. Great job!
s and best wishes.. ~genielassie~
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Thanks, Image and Visions. A Monchielle is not so difficult, really, you just have to grasp the rules... Glad you finally understood it. Maybe we will see some Monchielle's from your side soon? Jim
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Starhiker, this makes sense noww, A Monchielle at least I think I do. So now I can read other and have a little better understanding.I read this before and didn't understand soI don't thnk I made a comment. Now I can say I like the poem image and Visions
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Hey, Victor! Thanks for the comment, and the applause! I knew you would like it.
Jim
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freakin awesome!!
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Thanks, Lencio! Yes, it was about to write a new Monchielle, and also I wanted to write a Halloween poem, so combining both into one was the only solution. You want to try this form? Well, since you speak so nicely about it... Go ahead, any poet in the world may use this form freely! Thank you very much for the wonderful comment, and the heartwarming applause. Jim
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Thanks for a wonderful comment, and a heartwarming applause, Gaara... Heia Norge! Jim
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This is like a masterpiece and I wish I had written it
I really like this piece, besides it being a Monchielle too! You have really created a very beautiful form Jim. I will certainly try this one day (can I? lol!!!) I love this peice, its really great and you have my applause!!!
Love and light,
Lencio
Love to Monica and little Ole
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Great poem again by the one and only Starhiker! Abseloutly marvelous!
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Thanks, Kitty! I am glad you like my poem so much. When will we see your first Monchielle? Uncle Jim
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Thanks, Grams! Thanks for the wonderful comment. It was fun getting to live myself into a medieval halloween this weekend, and I hope we can do it again another year. Jim
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Wow. This is outstanding! I love the imagery in this! Great repetition and structure too! Keep it up!
One love,
Kitty xx -
crystaldust 31-10-05 16:55
Lovely Monchielle, Jim, with great whiffs of witches, roast chestnuts ghsts and the rest. Love it. I can see why you enjoyed writing it. Long live Monchielles! hugs, Grams -
Thanks, mrsfoss! I really appreciate your comment. I am humbled.
Jim
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Thanks, sis! Coming from you, I must humbly accept that I've managed to capture the essense of halloween in the middle ages... Thanks for the comment, the good luck wish, and the applause! Happy Halloween! Jim
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Wonderful
Hi,Starhiker:
Ohhhh a very chilling poem also a poem that is really great,This poem is very well written and you are a very talented poet,well done.
mrsfoss -
Spoooooookieeeee!!!!!
Jim, You captured the grandeur of the medieval times in this for sure. Very nice work on the Monchielle bro. I wish you luck in the contest. I am really going to be working hard to keep up with you bro, this sibling rivalry may drive us insane, who knows. LOL I applaud you for a great write and keep up the awesome work. Love and blessings from sis. 
Joyce
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Thanks, JediMaster, for the comment, and the applause! Jim
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Wow, nice piec of writing. I like how you used the old spelling.
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Thanks, adorable yeti! I appreciate any suggestions to my poetry, and changing thru to trough should make no difference in the poem, except that it may only become easier to understand. I'll fix it right away... Thanks for the comment, and the applause! Jim
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Thanks, darkinocenceangel! Yes, I know it was like this in the middle ages, I am in a society called "Living Medieval", where we play live roleplay games from that era. Thanks for the comment and the applause! Jim
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hey, wow.. the language added a lot to the style of the entire thing.... it was simply brilliant to read... though I would suggest in the last stanza, second line u spell out "thru" it kinda sopils the effect... anyways.. it was awesome to read.. my applause to it!
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vivaught(horrah awesome)
Hey Starhiker,
this was awesome and it is exactly how it was bavk then I know because i am in a type of midieval society -
Wow! Thanks for a wonderful comment, cafegroundzero! I am honored by your suggestion for people to print it out, and recite it as they go trick and treating tonight. Thanks again for the comment, and thanks for the heartwarming applause! Jim
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Thanks, Image and Visions! Thanks for a great comment! Jim
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Thanks, David Houston! Yes, I figured an explanation was in order for some of the words... I will gladly look at your Halloween poem, David! Thanks for the comment, and the applause! Jim
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Come hither me sweetie, hee hee hee hee hee!
"Booooh!!! I scared ya, din't I?"
How many of us have heard these words, or something like this in our own languages, from other children or our own?
Star Hiker has presented the world, through All Poets, an appropriately haunting and frightening monchielle on the theme of a medieval hallowe'en. The stanzas appeal to the palate like the orange and black taffies handed out from houses in America. You want to get another one, you savour the sweetness even as you feel a ghoul step on your grave, the shudder trilling along your spine.
One might exercise one's poetical and verbal skills by taking to heart such a poem, and reciting it as one prowls the streets in search of treats, or chances for tricks! (~~) -
Hi starhiker, nice write interesting and an intersting comcept writing from the middle ages. I knew tehr vocaualry, but still was good for an expliantion. good write image and Vison
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Hey Star, nice work, i love your usage of ol' spelling, and using the hearse, as well as pointing out that it means a wagon for the dead (many I'm sure think of a black Cadillac, your remark conjures up a much more creepy image). Also, I appreciate your use of form, though I am not very familiar with the monchielle, and will check out your homepage. If you have a moment I would like to hear what you think of my All Hallows Eve poem (my most recent listing). Best of luck and regards too, David
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Thanks, night-serpens! Yes, I was aiming for an old english sound to the poem. Seems I managed it. Thanks for the comment! Jim
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Thanks, ebaby! I'm honored that you want to learn about MY style of poetry. Thanks for the comment and the applause! Jim
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hehe cool! very old english sounding. kinda sounds like a beginning to some old halloween scary story heh. good luck!
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good poem
very good poem, I like the way it sounds and am learning about the different kinds of poetry thanks I like it! -
Thank you DarkenedAuras! I'm glad you liked it that much! Yes, the last stanza was what I used to make it give a chill down the readers spine. Jim
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Oh yeah I love this so much it is great no better yet fantastic...lol I loved the part where you said "All hallows eve is nigh,
and night seem to be thru,
outside you hear a scream.
Scurry up from bed, you
just know it was no dream"
I think this stanza makes it eerie and haunting....can't say much more other then it was magnificiant.... -
Thank you, Linda! I just had to do a poem about Halloween, and I had to do a new Monchielle, so I decided to do both in one. Jim
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Thanks, Deborah! Yeah, time is running short, if you want to be nice enough for Santa to come down your chimney. Thanks for the comment! Jim
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Jim, very nice rhythm poem,has flow through out has great
sheme through out..good job,thank you so much for sharing,Linda -
Very nice, Jim. I can't believe October is over. Only two more months in the year!
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