While certainly an unorthodox choice, “Carrion Comfort,” by Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J., fits with the Christian roots of Halloween as an appraisal of faith in the face of horror.

It's a haunting poem, perfect for Halloween. SOURCE History.com, Library of Congress, National Geographic, LiveScience and National Wildlife Federation. CONTRIBUTING Josie Goodrich/USA TODAY.

The Scariest Poem I Know. César Vallejo’s “Piedra Negra Sobre Una Piedra Blanca,” or “Black Stone on a White Stone,” isn’t what you might think of as a traditional Halloween poem.

The black cat has also been associated with witches since the medieval period in Europe. Which is why you may see a black cat drawn with a witch in modern Halloween decorations.