The leaves turn golden, the evenings grey
Summer is gone, fall is here to stay
We chickens feel droopy, sleepy, and all
As we slowly get used to the early nightfall.

Lazy Laurie is beginning to molt
Her plucked look gives quite a jolt
While Crazy Cookie covers the cracks with hay
“Gotta stop the draft,” she tells the blue jay.

Oreo, the biggest amongst us girls
Cleans her feathers, the ends she curls
While Paisley is worried, scared of the dark
Any noise makes her jump, even the dog’s bark.

“Now, dear Paisley, there’s nothing to fear
There are no ghosts, it’s wind you hear.”
Oreo tries her best to cheer Paisley up
As she stirs up the ice and water in her cup.

Try as she might, Paisley is not appeased
Lazy Laurie the leader looks none too pleased
Crazy Cookie laughs, her wings she beats
Says, “Wait until the night of trick and treats!”

“For you will see witches, ghouls and ghosts
Frankenstein and lions, in every corner and outposts.”
Paisley stares. Her feathers stand on ends
She marvels at the fearlessness of her friends.

“Quiet, Crazy!” Lazy Laurie frowns and scolds
As a shivering Paisley she cuddles and holds
“Halloween is a time of frolic and fun
And dress up and treats for everyone!”

“Wouldn’t it be fun if we all dressed up?
Went out trick or treating? I would dress as a pup!”
Says Oreo, as she stares at Paisley in delight
“You could be a raven! You are dark as the night!”

Paisley stares at the sky, thinking hard
“I would love to be a raven and fly about the yard.”
Laughs Crazy Cookie, “Well, what do you know?
Find a wolf partner, and trick or treating you go!”

“For wolves and ravens make the best of friends
They play, they share food, and other odds and ends.”
We chickens laugh and jest as the evening light streams
As the night falls slowly. Paisley sleeps and dreams.

The day of trick or treating is finally here
The kids dress up in their Halloween gear
We chickens feel the excitement in the air
We peek out of the coop. Did we just see a bear?!

A movement at the door catches Paisley’s eye
She stares and then she lets out a cry
For she has just spotted a wolf at the door
“My best friend!” she yells, shaken to the core.

Right before our eyes Paisley runs to the fence
She pushes at a rock! Has she lost all her sense?
Before we know it, she has moved the rock aside
To reveal an escape hole that is not too wide.

Little Paisley squeezes out and is gone in a flash
We rush behind her, into the hole we smash 
Alas! We are too big to squeeze through
We wring our wings. There’s not much we can do.

The night falls! We hope Paisley returns
Oreo is sad, for her friend she yearns
Just as we are about to give up hope
Paisley is here. No longer we mope.

Lazy Laurie scolds, Crazy Cookie shrugs
As Paisley looks guilty, Oreo hugs
“Sorry sisters. I know I was wrong. 
But it was time to explore and come back strong!”

“I followed the wolf. We went for a hunt
Door to door. Back to front
The wolf and I made a perfect team
And that’s not all!” Paisley’s eyes gleam.

She raises her wing. A bag drops
Looking inside Oreo’s eye pops
For treats await, sweet and sour
Paisley is the chicken of the hour.

We laugh, we squeal, we grab bites
Of Paisley’s stash of yummy delights
As Paisley recounts her Halloween walk
We listen, munching, our eyes agog.

At last, it is time for bed
Our happy bellies feel well fed
“Good night ladies. Paisley, great job!
You are now the chicken coop heartthrob.”

Drawings by: Leena Zwart aged 13