Pumpkins glow along the railing Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Kids in capes and candy hauling Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Cider steams, the porch light's burning Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la Autumn leaves keep gently turning Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Seven small ones at the doorway Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Six bars gone, I counted twice, hey Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Little ghost, the sheet hung crooked Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la Never took its mask off. Funny Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Porch lights wink out down the street now Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Every child has gone to sleep now Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Walking home, your footsteps echo Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la Stop. The echo stops a second after Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Key in the lock, you're safe inside now Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Hang your coat up. Lock the door. Now Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la The hallway's longer than you left it La-la-la, la-la-la Hall clock ticking. Out of step with La-la-la, la Photographs along the staircase La-la-la-la-la, la-la Every face is turned toward you La-la-la, la-la Yesterday they looked off camera La-la-la, la-la Someone's moved them. Someone's been here La-la-la You check the kitchen. Nothing wrong Everything is where you left it Except the chairs They're pulled out. All of them As if they've been sitting here a while Waiting for you to come home La-la That was not one of the singers Listen again. Fa. La It's learning how the song goes You're somewhere right now. Sitting, maybe Headphones on, the room around you Most of it you can see from here But not the part behind you You haven't checked it since the song began You haven't checked it in a while You noticed how quiet it got No cars. No fridge hum. Nothing Only the song And under the song A second rhythm. Slower than the music In. Out In time with yours When you hold your breath, it holds its own It's been practicing It doesn't need the air It only wants you to know That it can do it better Don't turn around. It isn't angry It was beside you on the porch It was in the photographs It was the seventh. It only wanted to be counted That's all it ever wanted So count One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six Go ahead. Say the last one You can't, can you Because you're not sure Which one of you is the seventh
