Parlay and Pay

Poem by Mark Andrew Heathcote

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Doors that need their hinges fixed and silenced
are restless, flee-bit dogs with muzzled growls?
Till on the porch, the neighbourhood wolfhounds
land dressed as werewolves; through the eyelet
peeping, garbed as vampires, some are moaning.
And are the living dead that's left their graves,
thus we answer with sharpened wooden staves,
to slay them before their decomposing
can go any further, but these zombies
are laughing as we muster the courage
to parlay and avert any carnage
offering silver, chocolate smarties
they fill their eager palms and wave goodbye
till next year, close your doors and fortify.

Mark Andrew Heathcote is adult learning difficulties support worker. He has poems published in journals, magazines, and anthologies both online and in print.