We have come to the final POPO 2026 card. I would like to thank Marina again for giving me permission to use her postcards for the Festival. Thank You <3

Tomorrow will be a photo of all of the poetry postcards I received during the festival. As I’ve done in previous years, I gathered one line from each poem and created a cento poem using them.

For those who have followed along this month, Thank You for appreciating the postcards, quotes, and poetry.

I chose not to share the poem I wrote for this day because it was about Dotty’s passing. Instead, I’m reposting a poem I wrote back in 2023. Beware, it’s haunting. It’s as it should be on Halloween. Reading it again I fear there is a bit of non-fiction in it. Advice: beware of creating monsters.

Monster Bones

What is that rattle in the yard
when moon hides in the clouds,
when wind tonight in autumn moans,
where howls of wolf pack echoes?
A clattered sound of monster bones.

I thought he’d wandered far away
last Halloween’s silent midnight.
I swore I heard his groan across
lake, his tears splashing like rain;
my guilt pulsed accusing refrain.

To me he was a hobby sprung of
extra bits and pieces cast aside, 
and upon my hands too much time;
a pattern of a scarecrow to elevate
the pumpkins; to decorate the yard.

Yet once I carved his toothsome smile,
eyelashed both of his eyes, he said
with such conviction that he wanted
to be more, not just decoration; how
could such earnest plea be denied?

A month of barters, haggles with zoos,
crematories, and butcher shoppes later
his puzzle was assembled with bones of
many creatures, with many features --
but would they see fit to work together?

It took some borrowed pixie dust and
spell I’d paid too much to learn; it
was too far to turn back now.  I said
the words, sprinkled, and oh my word!
Jack jumped as if puppet's strings jerked.

“Dance with me, my goddess, giver of my life.
I’ve watched you work, I love you, please
will you be my wife?”The toothsome smile I gave 
him, ‘ere of pure delight, now turned under
full moon’s shadowed light to demon grin.

What have I done!? Revulsion in fear grew
as monster metacarpals flexed and reached 
to take me for a whirl.  I knew ‘twould be
too late once captured within his spell; soon
I’d be the bride of a monster from hell.

Recalling all-important witches' addendum, 
I recited it through my chattering teeth, 
expecting him to fall into an inert heap --
but no, his carved eyes brimmed; his smile 
shifted to regard me with infinite sadness.

He hobbled off with severed strings, a
caricature from cartoons; I watched him
fade into dappled shadows cast by moon.
His  echoed voice:  “Goodbye, my love, 
remember me, as I will always remember you.”