Halloween Poems | Classics & Poems for Kids

Halloween is the perfect time to explore the eerie and unknown, from whispering ghosts to the moonlit chill of autumn nights to the surrealism of death. Poetry captures the magic of the Halloween season perfectly, blending mystery, imagination, and atmosphere into verses that can still give us goosebumps centuries later.

This article contains 13 Halloween poems, plus some simpler Halloween poems for kids. If you want to learn more about these poems or analyze a specific stanza or line, ask QuillBot’s AI Chat.

13 Halloween poems

Not all of these classic poems are strictly Halloween poems. However, all of them have themes that deal with the scary, spooky, and eerie aspects of life.

1. “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe is considered one of the masters of Gothic fiction and is often associated with Halloween. “The Raven”—which sees a talking raven become a symbol for eternal mourning—is probably his most famous poem. Here’s an excerpt:

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
“Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore—
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—
’Tis the wind and nothing more!”

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door—
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door—
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore—
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

—”The Raven” (stanzas 6–8) by Edgar Allan Poe (1845)

2. “Halloween” by Robert Burns

Robert Burns was a Scottish pioneer of Romanticism. “Halloween,” written in a mix of English and Scots, captures the magic, mystery, and merriment of Halloween night in 18th-century Scotland. The poem has 28 stanzas; read the first three below:

Upon that night, when fairies light
On Cassilis Downans dance,
Or owre the lays, in splendid blaze,
On sprightly coursers prance;
Or for Colean the route is ta’en,
Beneath the moon’s pale beams;
There, up the cove, to stray and rove,
Among the rocks and streams
To sport that night.

Among the bonny winding banks,
Where Doon rins, wimplin’ clear,
Where Bruce ance ruled the martial ranks,
And shook his Carrick spear,
Some merry, friendly, country-folks,
Together did convene,
To burn their nits, and pou their stocks,
And haud their Halloween
Fu’ blithe that night.

The lasses feat, and cleanly neat,
Mair braw than when they’re fine;
Their faces blithe, fu’ sweetly kythe,
Hearts leal, and warm, and kin’;
The lads sae trig, wi’ wooer-babs,
Weel knotted on their garten,
Some unco blate, and some wi’ gabs,
Gar lasses’ hearts gang startin’
Whiles fast at night.

—”Halloween” (stanzas 1–3) by Robert Burns (1786)

3. “Haunted Houses” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is most famous for his poem “Paul Revere’s Ride,” but “Haunted Houses” is a much better option as a Halloween poem. It explores the connection between memory and ghosts, with Longfellow portraying his ghosts in a gentle and almost comforting way. Find stanzas 2–4 below:

We meet them at the door-way, on the stair,
Along the passages they come and go,
Impalpable impressions on the air,
A sense of something moving to and fro.

There are more guests at table than the hosts
Invited; the illuminated hall
Is thronged with quiet, inoffensive ghosts,
As silent as the pictures on the wall.

The stranger at my fireside cannot see
The forms I see, nor hear the sounds I hear;
He but perceives what is; while unto me
All that has been is visible and clear.

—”Haunted Houses” (stanzas 2–4) by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1858)

4. “Theme in Yellow” by Carl Sandburg

“Theme in Yellow” is a friendly and autumnal reverie, in which Sandburg personifies a Halloween pumpkin. This Halloween poem is appropriate for all ages, with easy-to-recognize vocabulary like “ghost” and “jack-o’-lantern.”

I spot the hills
With yellow balls in autumn.
I light the prairie cornfields
Orange and tawny gold clusters
And I am called pumpkins.
On the last of October
When dusk is fallen
Children join hands
And circle round me
Singing ghost songs
And love to the harvest moon;
I am a jack-o’-lantern
With terrible teeth
And the children know
I am fooling.

—”Theme in Yellow” by Carl Sandburg (1916)

5. “All Souls’ Night” by William Butler Yeats

Yeats was an Irish poet and writer who won the 1923 Nobel Prize for Literature. “All Souls’ Night” is set at Oxford University at midnight, and Yeats sets a contemplative, spiritual tone as he “summons” dead friends like William Thomas Horton. Here are stanzas one and three:

Midnight has come and the great Christ Church bell
And many a lesser bell sound through the room;
And it is All Souls’ Night.
And two long glasses brimmed with muscatel
Bubble upon the table. A ghost may come;
For it is a ghost’s right,
His element is so fine
Being sharpened by his death,
To drink from the wine-breath
While our gross palates drink from the whole wine.

Horton’s the first I call. He loved strange thought
And knew that sweet extremity of pride
That’s called platonic love,
And that to such a pitch of passion wrought
Nothing could bring him, when his lady died,
Anodyne for his love.
Words were but wasted breath;
One dear hope had he:
The inclemency
Of that or the next winter would be death.

—”All Souls’ Night” (stanzas 1, 3) by William Butler Yeats (1928)

6. “Mildew” by Charlotte Dacre

Charlotte Dacre (sometimes known as Charlotte King) was a Gothic poet and novelist. In “Mildew,” she writes of a damp cavern with a sickly inhabitant, happy and at home in delicately described decay.

Behold, within that cavern drear and dank,
Whose walls in rainbow tints so dimly shine,
A wretch, with swollen eyes and tresses lank,
Does on a heap of mould’ring leaves recline.

Unwholsome dews for ever him surround,
From his damp couch he scarcely ever hies,
Save when blue vapours, issuing from the ground,
Lure him abroad, to catch them as they rise.

Or else at eve the dripping rock he loves,
Or the moist edge of new‐dug grave, full well;
To get the sea spray too at night he roves,
And, gem’d with trickling drops, then seeks his cell.

Such his delights, his green and purple cheek,
His bloated form, his chill, discolour’d hand
He would not change; and if he guests would seek,
He steals among the church‐yard’s grisly hand.

—”Mildew” by Charlotte Dacre (1805)

7. “Halloween” by Madison Julius Cawein

Madison Cawein grew up in Kentucky and emulated John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley; he was eventually called the “Keats of Kentucky.” In this Halloween poem, he writes of a lost love while invoking lush, liminal imagery (e.g., “starlight and dew”).

It was down in the woodland on last Hallowe’en,
Where silence and darkness had built them a lair,
That I felt the dim presence of her, the unseen,
And heard her still step on the hush-haunted air.

It was last Hallowe’en in the glimmer and swoon
Of mist and of moonlight, where once we had sinned,
That I saw the gray gleam of her eyes in the moon,
And hair, like a raven, blown wild on the wind.

It was last Hallowe’en where starlight and dew
Made mystical marriage on flower and leaf,
That she led me with looks of a love, that I knew
Was dead, and the voice of a passion too brief.

It was last Hallowe’en in the forest of dreams,
Where trees are eidolons and flowers have eyes,
That I saw her pale face like the foam of far streams,
And heard, like the night-wind, her tears and her sighs.

It was last Hallowe’en, the haunted, the dread,
In the wind-tattered wood, by the storm-twisted pine,
That I, who am living, kept tryst with the dead,
And clasped her a moment who once had been mine.

—”Halloween” by Madison Julius Cawein (1907)

8. “The Witch” by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge

“The Witch” has only three stanzas but two distinct voices. In the first two stanzas, the witch speaks in first person, but in the last stanza, a homeowner speaks about the witch in third person.

I have walked a great while over the snow,
And I am not tall nor strong.
My clothes are wet, and my teeth are set,
And the way was hard and long.
I have wandered over the fruitful earth,
But I never came here before.
Oh, lift me over the threshold, and let me in at the door!

The cutting wind is a cruel foe.
I dare not stand in the blast.
My hands are stone, and my voice a groan,
And the worst of death is past.
I am but a little maiden still,
My little white feet are sore.
Oh, lift me over the threshold, and let me in at the door!

Her voice was the voice that women have,
Who plead for their heart’s desire.
She came—she came—and the quivering flame
Sunk and died in the fire.
It never was lit again on my hearth
Since I hurried across the floor,
To lift her over the threshold, and let her in at the door.

—”The Witch” by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge (1893)

9. “The Little Ghost” by Edna St. Vincent Millay

“The Little Ghost” is set in a walled garden, which suggests containment and isolation. Yet the titular ghost can pass through the high walls and locked gate, calling forth the contrasting idea that barriers can be overcome. This Halloween poem is perfect for those who prefer the more uplifting side of the holiday. The first two stanzas are:

I knew her for a little ghost
That in my garden walked;
The wall is high—higher than most—
And the green gate was locked.

And yet I did not think of that
Till after she was gone—
I knew her by the broad white hat,
All ruffled, she had on.

—”The Little Ghost” (stanzas 1–2) by Edna St. Vincent Millay (1917)

10. “One need not be a Chamber — to be Haunted” by Emily Dickinson

This is a subtle and cerebral addition to any Halloween reading list. Dickinson explores psychological horror rather than supernatural terror, suggesting that our own minds can be more frightening than even the creepiest haunted chamber.

One need not be a chamber—to be haunted—
One need not be a House—
The Brain—has Corridors surpassing
Material Place—

Far safer, of a Midnight—meeting
External Ghost—
Than an Interior—confronting—
That cooler—Host—

Far safer, through an Abbey—gallop—
The Stones a’chase—
Than moonless—One’s A’self encounter—
In lonesome place—

Ourself—behind Ourself—Concealed—
Should startle—most—
Assassin—hid in Our Apartment—
Be Horror’s least—

The Prudent—carries a Revolver—
He bolts the Door,
O’erlooking a Superior Spectre
More near—

—”One Need Not be a Chamber — to be Haunted” by Emily Dickinson (1891)

11. “The Spectral Horseman” by Percy Bysshe Shelley

A galloping ghost and a haunted rider appear in Shelley’s dramatic poem. “The Spectral Horseman” features key Romantic themes: reverence for nature, fascination with the supernatural, and an appreciation for the mysterious. Here’s an excerpt:

It was not a fiend from the regions of Hell
That poured its low moan on the stillness of night:
It was not a ghost of the guilty dead,
Nor a yelling vampire reeking with gore;
But aye at the close of seven years’ end,
That voice is mixed with the swell of the storm,
And aye at the close of seven years’ end,
A shapeless shadow that sleeps on the hill
Awakens and floats on the mist of the heath.

—”The Spectral Horseman” (lines 10–18) by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1810)

12. “The Tyger” by William Blake

Though not explicitly a Halloween poem, Blake’s fiery imagery and sense of awe before a dark, perhaps supernatural creature make it a perennial October favorite. A close reading of the penultimate stanza reveals that he wonders if the tiger may have been created by demonic forces:

When the stars threw down their spears
And water’d heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

—”The Tyger” (stanza 6) by William Blake

13. “Song of the Witches” from Macbeth by William Shakespeare

While not strictly a standalone poem, “Song of the Witches” is such a critical moment in Macbeth—and such a famous piece of literature about witches—that it fits perfectly among these other Halloween poems.

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and caldron bubble.

Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the caldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder’s fork and blind-worm’s sting,
Lizard’s leg and howlet’s wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and caldron bubble.

Cool it with a baboon’s blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.

—Macbeth (Act IV, Scene i, lines 10–19; lines 35–38) by William Shakespeare (1623)

Halloween poems for kids

Find a few Halloween poems for kids below. These poems are perfect for parents or teachers who want to expose children to common Halloween imagery and simple rhyme schemes.

“The Friendly Ghost”

A cheerful ghost floats through the air,
Waving gently, everywhere.
He giggles softly, glows so bright,
Spreading cheer on Halloween night!

“Moonlit Mischief”

On a fence sat a sleek black cat,
Watching closely a chubby, fat rat.
The moon shone down with silvery light,
Making shadows dance in the night.

The cat gave a wink and twitched its tail,
While the rat nibbled cheese without fail.
Though they looked like foes in the spooky gloom,
They both loved to play by the light of the moon!

“Jack’s First Halloween”

Jack O’Lantern sat in his row,
Freshly carved, with a bright orange glow.
His smile was new, his candle just lit,
But truth be told, he was nervous a bit.

The other pumpkins winked and grinned,
“You’ll shine the brightest, don’t worry, friend!”
As trick-or-treaters began to appear,
Jack felt brave—filled with Halloween cheer!

“The Disguised Witch”

Willa the witch, with her hat and her broom,
Hid both away in her tidy room.
She dressed as a baker with flour on her nose,
Wearing an apron and sensible clothes.

She strolled through the town with a shy little grin,
Blending right in with the humans within.
No one could tell she could fly or cast spells—
Tonight she was normal, with secrets to tell!

“Will-o’-the-Wisp’s Halloween Dance”

In the misty marsh on Halloween night,
A will-o’-the-wisp glimmers soft and bright.
It twirls and it flickers, weaving through the air,
A magical light with a secret to share.

It bobs over puddles and skips by the reeds,
Glowing and giggling, it playfully leads.
Children in costumes, with lanterns in hand,
Follow its shimmer across the damp land.

They chase after laughter that echoes so sweet,
Hoping the wisp they might finally meet.
But just when it seems they are drawing in near,
The bright little spirit will simply disappear.

Yet as the moon rises and shadows grow deep,
The will-o’-the-wisp returns with a leap.
It dances for dreamers and whispers goodbye,
A flickering friend beneath the night sky.

Frequently asked questions about Halloween poems

When does spooky season start?

Spooky season typically begins in October or September.

“Spooky season” refers to the period leading up to and including Halloween. Spooky season is subjective, so it starts at different times for different people.

Some spooky season traditions are costume parties, trick-or-treating, cooking with pumpkin, reading Halloween poems and stories, and watching horror movies. Schools also often embrace spooky season, often with classroom activities involving spooky words and Halloween parties.

Want to know more about spooky season? Ask QuillBot’s AI Chat.

What are some words that rhyme with spooky?

Some words that rhyme with “spooky” are:

• Fluky: happening by chance
• Kooky: eccentric
• Pookie: a term of endearment

These rhyming words are perfect to use in Halloween poems.

QuillBot’s AI Chat can help you find words that rhyme with “spooky,” spooky words with creepy meanings, and more.