Mesmerizing horizontal snow
on Halloween, a weather record
for Chicago accumulation–
Chicagoans are unpredictable, too,
when they observe Halloween,
putting on masks
when they sit in bars
dressed in orange and black,
sip Betteljuice Cocktails,
tout toy lasar guns like children
dressed as action heroes,
Hasbro Avenger Marvel Titans
with lightning bolts
across their chests,
strut in the costume competition
that doesn’t win the prize
in the school parade.
By Jan Ball
Jan has published 396 poems in U.S. and international journals like Nimrod and Slipstream, U.S. and Orbis, England, and Cordite, Australia. Finishing Line Press published her four chapbooks and first full-length poetry collection. She has been nominated twice for the Pushcart as well as twice for Best of the Net.
