Is the sound that woke me rain pouring from the eaves, or is it ghosts bawling for injustices done? Is it branches moving with wind scratching the windowpanes or claws? DO YOU HEAR THE FOOTFALLS? — Frozen underneath my comforter, I listen, listen to my heartbeats, try to breathe without a sound. This all hallows eve, our house is dressed in shadows and I cannot really tell what’s real from what is made from dreams, the only thing I know is that darkness rules.
thousand glowing eyes
scrutinizing shadows passed
candles on the graves
Today Frank hosts Haibun Monday at dVerse with the theme being Halloween, All saints day or all All Souls Day which happens at the end of this week. Here in Sweden we have the tradition to light candles on the graves to remember the dead.
October 27, 2025
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Freezing under the comforter is such a good detail in your Halloween poem. You’ll never know what it was, only that it was there…
That is the scary part
intriguing, i held my breath while reading
much♡love
It pleases me to hear
I like the way you hooked me with questions, Bjőrn, the way you created atmosphere, and the different kinds of light in your haiku. I have seen candles in graveyards here too.
Thank you… yes the candles on graveyard is in many places…
You’re welcome, Björn
Oh my! Wonderfully spooky. You captured the Halloween atmosphere perfectly!
Thanks… spooky is what we need.
I love the ending “the only thing I know is that darkness rules.”
Darkness rules from November forwards
Yup… and we are about to adjust our clocks to daylight savings time… making it even darker!
Your “DO YOU HEAR THE FOOTFALLS” got to me. The sound of footfalls with no visible person making them is terrifying ❣️ Excellent writing! I love your tradition of leaving lit candles on graves. Eerie but beautiful 🕯️🧡
When I wrote it I accidentally wrote it in all caps… and then realized it should stay that way.
Yes! I agree 👻
The fright of nighttime possibilities. Bravo, Bjorn!
Everything can happened.
Deliciously illuminating the shadows here! jae
Shadows is everywhere.
Oooh very scary scenario
Nothing really happened which is the scariest part
Very true
I loved “Frozen underneath my comforter…” I was right there with you.
I do remember it happening once, even to the point of a gunshot going off outside my window,
So eery. I love the photo. I once lived in ahaunted building. We would hear footsteps crossing overhead. I would go up to look, and feel a suden chill go up my spine – she was right behind me. Gah.
I have never experienced it, I could just imagine.
Evocative of the thin veil that separates one world from the next.
Superb…that was stellar writing….the house dressed in shadows….it felt real, very serious not just a tale, and haiku…stunning.
I do hear the footfalls!
👣👣👣🐾
I like how the poem’s closing haiku intensifies dread, transforming Halloween imagery into a meditation on mortality and perception. Cool. Thank you for your poem.