Hannah's Halloween Costumes

Hannah loved all four seasons, and holidays too,
For she always found something exciting to do!
She built snowmen in winter, loved the colours of fall,
And jumped in the flame-coloured leaves--what a ball!
In the spring, she played baseball, in summer, she swam,
But she thought to herself, "I must be who I am
Three hundred and sixty-four days of the year,
So I can't wait for Halloween to get here!
For on that night alone, the whole world is aglow,
With streetlights, jack-o-lanterns, and lights turned down low,
People dressed up in costumes, making fantasies thrive,
Feeling giddily, magically young and alive!"

So on the first of October, she awoke with the sun,
For there was a lot that she had to get done,
So she ran to her mom's room, and shook her awake,
And waited impatiently as she ate her pancakes,
When breakfast was over, they went to the store,
And for hours on end, Hannah dithered and pored
Over patterns for costumes, for that one special night,
For it had to be perfect, it had to be right!
Hannah thought and debated this difficult choice,
Till her mother told her, in an impatient voice,

"Hannah Jane Hansen, I don't have all day.
Just pick out a costume, so we can go pay,
I want to get home, for this place is a zoo,
And pick something simple, whatever you do,
I'm not much of a seamstress, I hate arts and crafts,
Between you and me, Martha Stewart is daft!"

But despite Mother's speech, Hannah couldn't decide,
Should she be a cowgirl, with a stick horse to ride?
Should she be a princess, with tiara of gold,
Should she be Cleopatra, from stories of old?
Should she go as a witch, or a devil, or clown?
So she furrowed her face in a frustrated frown.

Said Hannah, "Oh, Mom, I can't make up my mind!
But since you're amazingly patient and kind,
I'm sure that you'll give in to this one request,
Since I can't decide which attire I like best,
Could I please get them all? I'll make Halloween last,
Wear one costume per day, for it goes by too fast,
When the fun is all over in one fleeting night,
It's a shame to see such great things fade in hindsight."

Hannah's mom was annoyed, and her patience was thin,
But to her young daughter's request, she gave in,
For she wanted to go home, and be free from this store,
Where she felt lost and helpless among patterns galore,
Of kid mannequins, who were dressed head-to-toe
In perfect outfits, made by moms who could sew,
Who were mythical creatures, in Hannah's mom's mind,
For, to frustrate mere mortals, these things were designed!

So, when they got home, Mother cut, pinned, and sewed,
In the locked sewing room, and her effort, it showed,
From the rhythmical whir-click of the sewing machine,
And the curse words that punctured this heartwarming scene
Of a mother who laboured from sun-up each day,
For she loved her young daughter, in so many ways.
She knew Hannah would grow up, and become too mature
For such childhood pleasures, so simple and pure,
So Mom sewed all month, 'till the costumes were done,
And Hannah came in and tried every last one.
She loved all the costumes, and thanked her mom dearly,
Who was panicking slightly, because she had nearly
Not finished in time for Halloween night,
Which, to her, would have been the worst possible fright!

So, she picked out a costume to go trick-or-treating,
With her friends Hans and Heloise, whom she was to be meeting
At the neighbourhood playground, at six on the dot,
So, to pick what to wear required almost no thought.
For Halloween night, Hannah went as a witch,
And at first, her plan went off with nary a hitch!
She walked with her friends, and they got lots of treats,
Until they were exhausted, and sore in their feet.

But the best part for Hannah was, she wasn't done!
She had several more days to revel in the fun!
So the next day, at school, she was costumed once more,
Looking gaily resplendent in the costume she wore.
So, for day after day, she came costumed again,
Though all of her classmates thought she was insane!
On Monday, a Martian, on Tuesday, a fairy.
On Wednesday, a werewolf, with a face oh-so- hairy.
On Thursday, a princess, on Friday, a ghost.
At her mother's indulgence, she'd constantly boast.

But after that week, her friends' interest had paled,
At the costumes, and stories that Hannah regaled
To all those who would listen, so they planned and they schemed,
To end Hannah's madness, nothing was too extreme.
So the very next day, before the first bell,
There was giggling, and whispering, and pointing as well.

Hannah looked all around, at her classmates and friends,
In awe that they'd go to such radical ends.
For her peers were all costumed as Martians and clowns,
Werewolves, witches, and fairies. At this, Hannah frowned.
She was no longer different, so what was the use?
So, being herself (who was somewhat obtuse),
Hannah walked herself home, and changed into her jeans,
And sweater, and sneakers, and returned to the scene
Of the schoolyard, so she could be different once more,
For following crowds is a most dreadful bore.

So, on the schoolyard on that chilly fall day,
Hannah's clothes made a statement, in a cynical way,
For, although her friends THOUGHT that their plan had succeeded,
It was they, and not Hannah, who had cracked and conceded
To the masses of people who yearned to blend in,
'Cause they never exactly felt right in their skin.
Hannah knew she had triumphed, despite anyone's thoughts,
For they couldn't make her be who she was not.