Allhallows Eve
The Legend of Jack o Lantern
A poem by D. Lee Brandt
jack o lantern, mysterious light seen at night often purported to be the soul of one who has been rejected by Hell, carrying its own Hell coal in its wanderings.
-Encyclopedia Britannica
Allhallows Eve
was on a chill October eve, traversing old, forsaken ways That I, at length, perchanced upon a place of long forgotten graves. Weathered stones, like twisted teeth, stood round in menacing display The names and dates entombed on each now lost with countless years decay. And stark against the evening sky, in shades of somber winter-gray, A crumbling church a vigil kept for those who all about her lay. An old man sat amid its ruins, and leaning gainst an ivied wing, Held from his hoary hand a lamp and motioned to me, beckoning. That lantern light, those pallid rays: no will-o-wisp glowed half so wan; It lent a ghastly aspect to whatere it chanced to fall upon. His face shown like the waxen moon, his sunken eyes were pale and meek. He eyed the graves as if entranced, then standing up, began to speak: Who are the men who slumber here beneath this dark and feral sward, And as the shadows fade tonight, what summons their phantasmal horde? For I saw one Allhallows Eve when naught but stars and gibbous moon Did dare to witness such a sight, such things as make a sane man loon. For all the spectral hosts of Hell rose up, and filling all the night, Danced and swayed to a haunting dirge like shadows cast by candlelight. And there I stood, a man transfixed amid their ageless, teeming crew, Till mercifully my soul escaped and from these mortal bonds I flew.
Eer since, upon Allhallows Eve, as shadows grow and stars appear, I come to these unholy grounds to share my tale with those wholl hear. So heed, be off! This is no place for those whove yet to meet their end. And lo! Behold the rising moon . . . their time is nigh, Gods speed, my friend! The agd man then turned away, and walking neath the moonlit skies, Began to fade, as ghosts will do, then disappeared before my eyes! A gloom then settled pon my soul. Bewitched, bewildered and in fright, I stumbled madly tward the road and cursed the dying of the light. The moon cast down a glittering eye and held its great celestial breath, As if it too had been forewarned; as if, it too, awaited death. It were as if Earths spinning mass had ceased in its diurnal flight No breath of wind, no leaf astir, no sound except the pulse of Night. For, yea, it was a living thing! Nights bony, million-fingered hand Groped westwardly, then tightened up its death-like grip upon the land. As if from Hell a distant knell pealed forth its solemn monody To wake from deep, eternal sleep Prince Lucifers dark company. The Earth shook deep upon her roots and belched forth all about my ken From dank, worm-riddled cubicles, the triturated flesh of men. My mind, it reeled to feast upon so dark and foul a brood as this But fain I watched, with trembling soul, like Dant at the gates of Dis. Then something moved! A shadow-shape a shifting of ethereal night. The gossamer wings of nameless things had paralyzed my mind with fright. For all the spectral hosts of Hell did rise, and filling all the night, Danced and swayed to a pipe unseen like shadows cast by candlelight. They bobbed & swirled, they spun & twirled great God, condemn the very sight! No Christian soul need know what lurks beyond the lightless veil of night.
The Chapel bell resumed its knell, more loudly now it seemed to roll; And knew I then twas summoning the sacrificial lamb a soul! Each torpid eye was fixed on me! Those cold, uncaring, lifeless slits, If truly windows of the soul, revealed naught but one great abyss. And there I stood, a man transfixed amid their ageless, teeming crew, While hellhounds bayed and demons prayed for Lucifer to claim his due. Upon a pyre of faerie fire, a writhing, hornd shadow-spawn Rose up and spread its bat-like wings above the charnel, fetid lawn. The moon, with clouds, its eyes had veiled as if ashamed to gaze below, For slowly rose I to my feet and to the shadow-spawn did go. Think not that I with willing step proceeded through that pallid mist Against its will Id fought and lost, and suffered its control, I wist. Yet even so, I fought within and searched my minds unfettered path For remnants of unspoken prayer that might invoke my Saviors wrath. With heavy step and heart forged I no sign of armies Heaven sent To save from Slaughters unjust hand the lamb returning penitent. The faerie fire grew now higher, till presently I stood before The incarnate malevolence twixt me and Hades gaping door. No sign made he, nor utterance, nor did the great pernicious throng That stole like death upon my heels as tward their liege I crept along. The beast raised high his sinewed arms; like a pillar of stone stood he. Through powers dark the ground took spark his eldritch fire surrounded me! He laughed aloud, then listed as an imp spoke in feigned secrecy: The clay he wears is wanting, but his soul is fat with piety. The demon licked his callused lips with a tongue that leapt like a flame. Then indeed a tasty morsel dwells beneath that meager frame.
Let him roast a while longer, for pain can do much to entice It peppers the soul with hatred, and hatreds my favorite spice. Hotter and higher raged the fire it tortured me body and soul While goblins and ghouls danced circles round my charred and grassy knoll. Witch and warlock, kobold and imp, hobgoblin, night hag and wight Joined each, in turn, that frenzied jig and danced long into the night. Orion soared like a phantom chasing after the setting moon, And I knew as I lay watching, I would too be descending soon. But my thoughts neer reached fruition, for I saw in the ring of flame A most blessd apparition, and I heard it call out my name. Hearken! a seraphim whispered, Tis salvation I offer thee. Wouldst thou suffer the test of fire, he asked, to gain eternity? Thy Master his blessing hath given, so cast off thy earthly coils! There is no sin nor damnation in depriving the Devil his spoils. Then he reached out to embrace me, and I to my last embraced him, Till nothing remained but ashes scattered bout the infernos rim. A cry rose up, a fearful din triumphant cheers among the dead. What met my eyes? To my surprise, I held the shadow-spawn instead! Its ruse had worked though twas my plan to strip the Devil of his pelf, My sin was undeniable: the wanton murder of myself. And so I fell not just from Grace, but to the very depths of Hell A killers place is not with God, but down among the infidel. What have we here? the Devil sneered as he surveyed his tithe of dead. I met his fiery gaze with mine. My Christian name is Jack, I said. Your Christian name? the Devil mocked, Youll have no need of such things here, And were your soul but mine to keep, such insolence would cost you dear.
But as it is, youre doubly damned: condemned to haunt the twilight sphere Between the Heaven that you love and the flames you so justly fear. Although tis true your crime is great, your dying thoughts were those of God . . . And though Id love to keep you here, your feet are doomed to elsewhere plod. He took my hand within his claw and placed a flaming rock within: A piece of Hell to take along; a grim reminder of my sin. The rock, it glowed like a phantom, and stung like a dagger of ice. So this was the old mans secret: he, too, paid the ultimate price. Brethren are we and companions both living and dying begrudged; Each bearing his fiery burden till that day we must all be judged. Eer since that dread Allhallows Eve, as shadows grow and stars appear, I come to these unholy grounds to share my tale with those wholl hear. So heed, be off! This is no place for those whove yet to meet their end. And lo, behold the rising moon! Their time is nigh, Gods speed, my friend!
Unpublished Work 2009 D. Lee Brandt
