The elementary school sat across from the old folks home.
Each Halloween, kindergarten through fifth graders paraded
in a circuit that went from around the school property,
across the street, and past a large plate glass window at the end
of the second floor of the seniors’ building.
Clowns, princesses, mutant turtles, scissor-hands, rangers,
power and others, kitty cats, football players, and mouse stars
waved gloved, clawed, scissored, and furred paws.
Through the dusty pane, from crowded-together wheelchairs
holding blanket-covered laps, waved sweatered arms betwixt
which hovered acrylic smiles and variously twinkled eyes.
I wish, just once, the uniformed chair-pushers would have
wheeled them out to the warm, sunny October lawn, to be
immersed in the menagerie; to hear their laughter.
This is based on where my kids went to elementary school and the annual Halloween parade they had. My older son wore a clown costume one year and younger son wore Edward Scissorhands one year.
I’m today’s host for dVerse. I say:
Write a poem using the word clown or a word – real or created – with clown as the root.
Tao Talk 
Vincent Price was really good in that movie,
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What movie?
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I wish that we could have the possibility for old people and children to meet… maybe it’s time to correct this when the covid crisis has passed.
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100% agree, Bjorn. Old people used to stay with extended families, but nowadays they go to assisted living 😦
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You guys go all out for Halloween, while it is more understated in the UK. I’ve never experienced a Halloween parade, which does sound like fun, especially the Edward Scissorhands costume, and what a wonderful thing for the people in the old folks’ home – they need their fun too and I bet they would have enjoyed being outside with the children. I wonder what Halloween will be like this year.
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Good question on Halloween this year…
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It sounds as though there’s a faulty connection in the celebration circuit. Like you, I hate the way old people are kept out of the way, segregated and allowed only to mix with ‘their own kind’. If we can send ships to Mars we ought to be able to create a human living environment where everyone has their place.
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Absolutely, Jane.
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This is wonderful! Our children also had a halloween parade every year in grade school….it paraded through the neighborhood and all the stay-at-home moms and senior citizens would stand on their porches or their lawns and see the kids. The teachers always got together to coordinate their costumes. The best one I remember was when each one of them was a different color crayon!
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How very cool that the parade walked the neighborhood so everyone could enjoy the costumes. Coordinating costumes takes it one step further 🙂
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What a delightful idea, yes a shame they were not on the lawn to interact … hearing the laughter would have helped! You captured the atmosphere well
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Thank you, Kate. The people behind the dusty glass seemed like animals trapped in a zoo to me and desperate to connect with the outside world.
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they always are but pushing those chairs onto grass is tough, there should be a path …
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An assisted living home is a bit of a zoo. You rocked the prompt with this all Hallows Eve prose.I agree with your premise.
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Glenn, thank you so much. I love what you did with the prompt also 🙂
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This is a heartwarming scene but heartbreaking at the same time for the older people who couldn’t join in the fun. Time to break down those barriers when it becomes safe again.
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Yes, Ingrid. They should at minimum make that window one that can be opened for fresh air and the sounds of laughter.
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A delightful poem Lisa! Pre Covid they would have mingled I’m sure 😢. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays ☺️
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Thank you, Christine. This was 20+ years ago. Halloween is a beloved holiday for me also.
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Sad that the elderly can become overlooked, even invisible. Fine write Lisa.
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Thank you, Rob.
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Great thought Li. The old would have benefited from meeting and mingling with young crowd.
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Thank you, Sadje.
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You’re welcome
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Such a nice tradition and fun way to uplift the spirits of the old folks. I hope they enjoyed that bit of fun and sunshine.
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It was, Grace.
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So nice that the students crossed the street to visit the shut-ins to bring them cheer.
Now it is the parents parading around outside the plate-glass window.
Well done Lisa… I enjoyed your prompt!
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Ha ha! Thanks Dwight. Glad you enjoyed the prompt.
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Even without the Covid Threat, there are fewer and fewer of these interactions as time passes. You capture the possible (though rarely achieved) positivity well, Lisa
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Thank you, Ron. Seems like it was easier to achieve back in the day.
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Loved this.
I lived next to a grade school for more than 30 years. That parade, down the clock and back, was a big day every year, especially when my own little munchkins were in it.
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Awwww good times, eh? ❤
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Indeed.
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kaykuala
wheeled them out to the warm, sunny October lawn, to be
immersed in the menagerie; to hear their laughter.
Would certainly be in keeping with the wonderful world of happiness if they had done so. Thanks for the prompt Jade!
Hank
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Thank you for the wonderful comment and my pleasure 🙂
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I like the prose-poetry format. Is there a specific name to it?
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The 144-word one on Monday nights is called prosery.
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Oh! I missed the connect between two prompts 🙂
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Yes, that would be much better.
Where we go, they wheel the residents out into the lobby and have them hold bowls of candy in their laps. Then the kids come through asking for treats, giving hugs, and saying thank you. But this year, Halloween will be very different. 😦
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That’s almost as good, as the kids and the seniors can connect, but you’re right, Covid-19 is a great disruptor of good things. I was reading just last night about so many senior activity centers closing down, which have been the source of so much social connection for older adults. I hope by next year things will be back in balance.
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I share your wish to have them mingle, I hope we all get to mingle.
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A wonderful memory for you Lisa.
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Indeed. It seemed so ordinary at the time 😦
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I love to see the elderly people smile when they see the little ones all dressed up for Halloween.
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I do also, Christine. Their faces light up and their eyes twinkle 🙂
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I used to bring my therapy dog to the convalescent home. The way their eyes lit up. So many people who don’t get visitors, it was great. I want a new therapy dog some day.
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❤
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I agree with you 100% … my mother lived in a memory care home for several years. The highlight of her week was when kids from a nearby elementary school came to visit, sing and do art projects with the residents! Thank you for writing this ……
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You are very welcome, Helen.
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Love that last thought, especially. I would have longed for the same.
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Thank you, De.
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This is charming, and I’m loving the message. The prose-like form is a perfect choice for the narrative quality and descriptive details. An enjoyable read!
(Also loved the history of the topic and the poetry selections for this prompt.)
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Thank you for reading and your comments. Glad you enjoyed the prompt.
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never witnessed such parade as Halloween was not a major festival in my home country. however, i felt the nostalgia and the longing here.
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