Halloween was a non-event
maybe it was because I closed the blinds
and turned off the porch light
I didn’t have any candy
being afraid of the demon breath
coming from kids
I have avoided that for three years now
no reason to take that chance
their masks are not N95s

Or maybe it was because
when I was sitting in my chair outside this morning
watching thirty butterflies
on my purple flowers
dragonflies and lizards
in the perfect morning
reminding myself what day it was
smoke from my cigarette
briefly obscuring the blue sky
thinking suddenly it was Halloween
I said to no one but the ghosts in my mind
It seems like any other day to me