Map
of Austin Poetry #156-1 Theme: Pumpkin Head and Pie Face
1.
A Pumpkin's View of All Saints Eve by Gary Blankenship
Jack
sat on the stoop
and
wondered how he got there.
A
couple of days ago that he hung around the pumpkin patch
and
listened to Granny tell tales about the Headless Horseman
and
swapped lies with his brothers.
Now
someone had carved
A
silly grin on his face
With
fangs no less;
The
wind was drafty
Through
his eyes;
And
he felt a heat
Inside
his shell;
He
needed something for his heartburn, but there was no Maalox handy,
so
he just sat on the stoop and watched the world go by,
as
a Jack is wont to do on the day before Halloween.
Jack
sat on the stoop
and
wondered how he got there.
He
seemed to remember some Old Squash tale about how Halloween
was
a magic time and how the sprites
and
the fae owned the earth for the day.
But
on the stoop,
Tabby
chased a spider
Through
his nose;
Rover
whizzed on his head,
Nearly
putting out his light;
And
a mouse nibbled
On
where his ear should be.
He
needed something for his ear (which really wasn't there),
but
there was not Band-Aid handy, so he just sat on the stoop
and
watched the world go by, as a Jack is wont to do
on
the day of Halloween.
Jack
sat on the stoop
and
wondered how he got there.
His
father was the largest pumpkin in five counties and
his
mother was on the cover of Burpee's seed catalogue.
He
should have made more of himself.
But
on the stoop,
He
watched the angels,
Witches,
ghosts, cowboys
And
bunnies knock on the door;
And
he was kicked
Into
the azaleas by an oaf
Dressed
as a Power Ranger.
He
needed stitching for this wounds, but even if a doctor had come by,
he
did not have health insurance, so he just sat on the stoop and
watched
the world go by, as a Jack is wont to do
on
the night of Halloween.
Jack
lay in the bushes
and
wondered how he got there.
Even
cinnamon, nutmeg and whipped cream would be better
than
lying in the shrubs. For all that, even baking in a hot oven
with
a little honey would be better.
But
beside the stoop,
He
watched the children
Fighting
over who got
The
best candy and whine
Wanting
to eat a caramel ball,
Even
though it wasn't wrapped
And
might not be safe.
He
needed someone to pick him up and set him back on the stoop.
He
was lifted up, but he was carried to the trash can
and
dumped among the cans and candy wrappers and empty wine bottles.
Jack
lay in the garbage
and
wondered no more.
As
a Jack is wont to do the day after Halloween.
©
2000 Gary Blankenship
2.
Silent Embrace by Vanyell
In
the darkness
I
feel your closeness,
The
intimate proximity
of
your teasing touch.
You
steal the air from my lungs,
Forcing
me to realize,
with
you I no longer have to breath.
In
your strong silent embrace
I
feel your satin touch beneath my fingertips,
Hear
the soft rustle of fabric.
I
lose myself in your guarding comfort,
your
rejuvenating strength.
I
discover myself drawn to you
again,
again,
and
again.
You
are ever there
Waiting
for my return
In
the dying night.
My
sole savior;
My
cryptic lover;
My
eternal coffin.
©
2000 Vanyell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3.
Halloween by Marilyn Injeyan
Sudden
mountain looms. Night's backlit shadows
flung
on door as I approach entryway
Skittish,
breath caught, heart stampedes. Snapple slips
from
wet, trembling hand, shatters glass. Plainly
chased
and stomped by fear like Icabod Crane
in
Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Horselaugh
Leaves
nicker, a plane hums, spell is broken
Trotting
for broom, dust pan, I sweep up shards
Glassy-eyed,
I sip Strawberry Kiwi
dream
shadows drift on mandarin mountain
Yesterday,
Halloween by Marilyn Injeyan
No
witches and goblins
stopped
to Trick or Treat.
Our
place was dark,
deserted
like a haunted house.
Tonight
I carved a Jack O' Lantern.
Its
smile holds no fine teeth
like
my son created
when
living at home.
I
cut a simple slit
but
couldn't find a candle
to
light the hollow place.
I
roasted pumpkin seeds till golden.
Each
carefully cracked seed
separates
shell from center.
I
chew and swallow the end of October,
taste
its nutty flavor.
© Marilyn
Injeyan