A-Souling
“Hey ho, nobody home . . . ?”
His sing-song question fell on no ears but hers,
deaf all others to its celebratory tones
the night of All Hallow’s Eve.
Tenor voice attuned to hearth,
lights in hands they enter
to find soul cakes laid on barrels,
beer and apples.
None heard him but her,
would never leave her
till her heart stopped, like his:
a toast before departing,
as midnight strikes.
“I will come and sing no more
’til this time next year.”
Soul cakes? A-souling? Unfamiliar with these terms are you, like I was? According to wikipedia, soul cakes are spicy shortbread-like biscuits given out to “soulers” who come round during the days of Allhallowtide singing and saying prayers, a’souling, in fact.
One traditional song, “A-Souling,” was made familiar to us by Peter, Paul, and Mary who sung it as a Christmas song, which for most parts of England it has become. The group Lothlorien sings it in the traditional mood of Allhallowtide.
Click here for the lyrics.
Sammi's Weekend Writing Prompt: "question," exactly 84 words Sammi's 13 Days of Samhain -- Day 4: "soul cakes" Punam's RagTag Daily Prompt: "celebration"
This Jolly Beggar 
Beautifully written. So sad that the soul of the beloved dead can only cross the veil on all hallow’s eve. I’m certain they can do that in our memories, too.
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Memories … yes, where they live longest. That makes me think of the Disney movie, Coco, and its premise. Thank you for your thoughtful comments, Gabi.
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Coco! Thanks for reminding me of that movie, that’s the one to rewatch this Halloween! 🙂
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A delightful delve into the past and you’ve given us some very fitting songs. I’ve always been fascinated by the history behind All Hallow’s Eve.
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Thank you, Keith. I wonder if it satisfies our yearnings to still be in communion with those we’ve lost to death, for a time. Soul cakes are a pleasant discovery. I’ll have to find a good recipe.
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Excellent take on the prompt. Well done, Dora. Loved the vides. 🙂
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Thank you, Bill. Glad you enjoyed it. Celtic music seems oddly familiar to me though I don’t have a drop of Celtic blood in me!
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Beautiful! So sad but also so sweet 🙂
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Thank you, Sammi. Elven tales are never entirely happy. At least that’s what reading the Silmarillion showed me!
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Very true 🙂
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