Hello everyone! Time for my entry to Susanna Hill’s annual Halloweensie Contest. Rules: 100 words or fewer, must contain some form of the following three words: cauldron, shiver, howl. I consider my entry a motivational picture book in 86 words, LOL.
S.O.S. (Save Our Souls)
Scarecrows flip-flop through the meadow.
Goblins plunk a creaky tune.
Skellies shiver ’round the cauldron,
glowing fiercely like the moon.
All the ghouls have gathered
for this once a year retreat,
chanting incantations
to a howling werewolf beat.
Then they pull out pens and postcards,
settle down and take a seat.
Time to get right down to business—
No, NOT going Trick or Treat!
What brings these souls together,
casting spells and writing notes?
Spreading one important message:
Your country needs your votes!
PLEASE VOTE!!!
OK, so maybe this is a motivational picture book for little civic-minded citizens….
Jilanne Hoffmann 
Love that you wrote this clever poem encouraging voting. It is SOS time! FYI, I already voted😉.
Yay! That’s what I love hearing! Thank you!
Excellent message! Good luck in the contest. I voted last week but this is a scary time and not because of Halloween.
Yay! Yes, I agree. Thank you for voting!
I have voted in every election, every primary, whatever is on the ballot, I exercise my right to voice my opinion.
Woo! I didn’t see that ending coming, but I’m sure glad it came!
Tricked you, did I? Kind of like getting a chocolate-dipped brussels sprout? Not sure this fulfills Susanna’s requirement for targeting those ages 12 and under, but I thought I’d put it out there. Never too young for a civics lesson….
Wow! Great rhyming and a clever plot to get out the vote! Good luck. 🙂
Thanks! Hope the postcards and incantations work. Cheers!
Great sense of humor in the twist, Jilanne. Glad you joined in! Best of luck. 🙂
Thanks, Maria! It was one of those that, thankfully, wrote itself, since I’m focusing on NaNoWriMo prep. I’m going to be scarce in the blogosphere come November. So I’m writing and scheduling my PPBF posts ahead of time. Cheers!
Voted. =) Good luck!
Fantastic! You’re clearly ahead of the game. Cheers!
Very clever! I love the creative S.O.S title and how you incorporated your story in to reminding us of our right to vote.
We vote here next week. Hoping to help teachers and schools get some more funding by getting people in there that will support education and not destroy it.
Thanks, Megan! Fingers crossed for more funding for education! At my son’s school, they share textbooks. The books stay in the classroom and everyone uses them in each class. They don’t get to take them home. Math classes have a paperback workbook that was developed and mass-produced by the district to standardize what is being taught in each class. They do get to take those home and write in them. So very different from when I grew up. I hope you funding comes through!
Unique! 🙂
I’d hate for it to be predictable! Thanks for stopping by!
Surprise ending here! I like your scarecrow flip flopping through the meadow. I’ve already voted and my husband and I also work the polls on election day.
Yay, you and and your husband! Thank you for being good citizens!!! Thank you!!!
Aaaarrghhhh! American politics is way too scary for me!! *howls, and hides in a cauldron, shivering*
LOL, I’ll let you know when you can come out again. I hope it’s sometime soon!!! Nice use of those three words, by the way….
Love it!
Thanks, Jenna!
Ha! This is perfect! Great imagery and wonderful twist ending.
Thank you! I knew going in that this might not be kid-friendly enough, but I had to write it, anyway.
That’s neat that your poem encourages voting, good luck!
Thank you! I’m thinking this poem gets paired with the picture book, Grace for President.
Haha
Yes, yes, yes….tell the world.
Getting out the vote comes in many forms, doesn’t it? Thanks for stopping by!
Yay, friend! You definitely win for most politically motivating! But really… great rhyme!! I love this, it’s one of my favorite entries so far. Good Luck!
Oh, you are too kind! You could say that I was highly motivated to write this. Cheers!
LOVE this, Jilanne! So timely & super rhyming, too! Happy Halloweensie!
Thank you! Happy Halloweensie to you, too!
Wow! This is powerful and clever! Love the tie-in Jilanne. 🙂 And my whole family will be voting on November 6! We all go together, making it an event. Thank you for writing this!
Thank you, Traci! Yay! Your family is awesome, and what a great event! Everyone gets a sticker and exercises their civic responsibility. Thank you! Thank you!
This makes me wonder why there aren’t more (any??!) Halloweensie-themed book on citizen responsibility?!
Unexpected but perfectly timed.
🙂
Yes, that’s a good point. I began thinking about that since Halloween is ALWAYS voting’s immediate predecessor. That’s what spurred me to write this. Thanks for stopping by!
Oooh, nice twist at the end!!! Love how you incorporated encouraging voters–well done
Thank you! Thanks for stopping by!
Love the surprises ending.
Thank you! It surprised me, too, when I wrote it. But then I understood that it was meant to be. Funny how that happens….
Clever, well-written poem, Jilanne, with a great ending! I liked the mood set at the beginning and the rhythm of your writing! Thanks for joining in the Halloweensie fun! (And YES – I voted!!!)
Thanks, Susanna, for the kind words AND for voting!! Your contests are so much fun! Thank you for having them!