THE STRAW PHANTOM
A Pantomime for Halloween
circa 1917
by Dorothy Brewer Blackall (1890?-1949)
About All-hallow’s Day
Just listen very carefully
To every word I say.
Once on a time there lived a witch
Deep in the forest glade
Who built a fire and brewed a charm
And a wondrous scarecrow made.
The Jack-o’-Lanterns helped her,
And two rabbits—He and She.
The wind did howl as they did dance,
Just wait a bit—you’ll see.
“Upon my soul!” cried old Dame Witch,
“This fellow’s far too gay
To be a common scarecrow
And frighten birds away.
“That pumpkin head and fine buff coat
No crow would ever fear.”
And creeping slowly up to him
She croaked, “Smoke this, my dear!”
A knotted, crooked, gnarled old pipe
She stuck between his lips;
A wondrous thing did happen when
He’d taken three good whiffs.
No more his legs were bean-poles stiff,
His breath in quick gusts came;
He slowly made a deep, deep bow,
And the witch she did the same.
And then they started whirling—
Gadsook! a funny scene
To see a witch and a scarecrow
Dance on Allhallow’en!
“I’m proud of you, my beauty,
You’re such a worthy son.
You’ll choose a partner of your own
Before this night is done.
“Nor shall you, like a country lad,
Look near home for your lass.
Watch well the magic mirror here
And see what’s in the glass.”
First, in the magic mirror,
Appeared a sweet Dutch lass.
“She’s very pretty,” Scarecrow said,
“But still I’ll let her pass.”
And then in quick succession
Came girls from every land:
A beauty fair from Sweden,
A belle from far Japan.
A Persian maid so languorous;
A Russian, swathed in fur,
A Spanish señorita,
Each one his heart did stir.
“You all are very lovely,
But you hail from far away;
I choose a partner near at home,
A girl of the U.S.A.”
You’ll see her if you watch,
good folk,
Come—pull aside the screen.
Long live the Stars and Stripes, my
friends,
And likewise Hallowe’en.
It's rare to find a pantomime. For those who do not know what that is - a narrator reads the poem while players (typically on a stage - but hey the patio will do) pantomime the action. It can be fun... go for it... you know you want to. grin!
St. Nicholas, October 1917
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