When the night wind howls

Here is the perfect poem to share on a night like tonight.  Here in Wisconsin, the wind is so loud that it sounds like our house is going to blow over.  We are in for a real blizzard tonight!  So it's a good night to stay in and read some spooky poetry. :) This poem was written by W.S. Gilbert (as in Gilbert and Sullivan) who you can read more about Here. The poem was made into a song for the comic opera titled "Ruddigore" or The Witch's Curse.  

"WHEN THE NIGHT WIND HOWLS"

  by W. S. Gilbert

When the night wind howls

In the chimney cowls,

And the bat in the moonlight flies,

And the inky clouds,

Like funeral shrouds,

Sail over the midnight skies --

When the footpads quail

At the night-bird's wail,

And black dogs bay at the moon,

Then is the spectre's holiday -- Then is the ghost's high noon!

Ha!Ha!

Then is the ghost's high noon!

As the sob of the breeze

Sweeps over the trees

And the mists lie low on the fen,

From grey tomb-stones

Are gathered the bones

That once were women and men,

And away they go,

With a mop and a mow,

To the revel that ends too soon,

For cock crow limits our holiday -- The dead of the night's high noon!

Ha! Ha!

The dead of the night's high noon!

And then each ghost

With his ladye-toast

To their church yard beds take flight,

With a kiss, perhaps,

On her lantern chaps,

And a grisly grim, "good night!"

Till the welcome knell

Of the midnight bell

Rings forth its jolliest tune,

And ushers in our next high holiday --

The dead of the night's high noon!

Ha!Ha!

The dead of the night's high noon!

For those of you who would like to watch "When the Night Wind Howls" in action, here is a video clip from the musical, Ruddigore. Don't worry, you won't get too scared watching this. :)