Break
the
brass locks
of old trunks
in attics to seek
ancient treasures and trappings to
transform apple-cheeked children, hair fragrant with sunshine
and autumn breeze, into leering hunchbacks, pirates, mummies, zombies, vampires, and beasts—
slick back childhood's curls, hide and distort with ghoulish masks,
render strangers all, which is what
the spirits ask of
us, whether
we're large
or
small.