What Night Would it Be? - Ciardi

What Night Would It Be?
Written by John Ciardi (1916-1986)
Illustrated by Edward Gorey (1925-2000)


If the moon shines
on the black pines
and an owl flies
and a ghost cries
and the hairs rise
on the back
on the back
on the back of your neck -

If you look quick
at the moon-slick on the black air
and what goes there
rides a broom stick
and if things pick
at the back
at the back
at the back of your neck -

Would you know then
by the small men
with the lit grins
and with no chins,
by the owl's hoo,
and the ghost's boo,

By the Tom Cat,
and the Black Bat
on the night air,
and the thing there,
by the thing,
by the thing,
by the dark thing there

(Yes, you do,
yes, you do,
know the thing I mean)

That it's now,
that it's now,
that it's Halloween!

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© John Ciardi (circa 1960s)
© artwork Edward Gorey