Carving Jacks

Poetry Day! Now I know I'm going to hear all the same arguments that I do every year. I'm not a poet. Don't worry, the poets will have a short story day, so you'll all be even. Write a poem about carving a jack'o lantern. It can be funny, spooky, have a message, etc. It can also be any form as long as it meets the rules above. 30 lines or less.



Carving Jacks

Three triangles, a jagged line:
How our pumpkins end up...'most every time!
One year I tried using the stem as a snout--
don't EVEN want to remember how that one came out!
There've been years when we had a marker design
because we were rushed and ran out of time.
This year will be different--decorating the yard
and we've only got seven pumpkins to carve.
We started last night: got the guts in a bowl,
then hubby said "Save the seeds!" I shook my head. Bless my soul!
By the time we deseeded seven pumpkins worth of guts,
we were slimy and gooey and going nuts!

Then he wanted to draw out facial designs
with zigs and zags and curvy lines.
He got out his hacksaw and then got out the drill:
"I'll carve me the best pumpkin, ever, I will."
I nodded, kept hacking at my jack's face,
I knew not to encourage him, just kept up my pace.
I was now on pumpkin number five,
he'd yet to create so much as an eye.
He'd put on music, "Need inspiration," says he in a dash
and so now we are jiving to the 'Monster Mash!"
I'm on number six, the night's headed south,
he starts talking of pumpkin guts spilling out of a mouth.


Mine are lined up with candles and glow sticks,
I've washed out the bowls, the knives, the picks.
Drinking coffee, it's the witching hour, he's finally almost done.
I look at my six sets of faces and look over to his lonely one.
Silly man, I have to smile. Three triangles, a jagged line--
three hours later, his one Jack O' Lantern looks exactly like mine!