Oh, Pumpkin Head!
Jack-o’Lantern Reunion Challenge
“Oh, Pumpkin Head” is my submission for the Jack-o’-Lantern Reunion Challenge issued by Phyllis Doyle in our latest newsletter. Having grown up in Australia at a time when Halloween was not celebrated (it is not one of our traditions) I may be at a slight disadvantage in writing about Halloween or Jack-0′-Lanterns.
I always envied my US counterparts being involved in such a wonderful celebration and eagerly watched US Television shows and movies about Halloween. Fortunately for Australian children today, Halloween celebrations like trick-or-treat have now been embraced. For this reason I had to write something for this challenge. This is it:
Oh, Pumpkin Head!
Oh, Pumpkin Head
Show me your light,
As the Jack-0′-Lantern
All Hallow’s Eve night.
From Will-o’-the-Wisp
Your creation transpired,
For the Harvest Season
In place of bonfires.
That devilish grin
Upon your orange face
Puts all evil spirits
Back in their place.
You sit in the window
Glaring into the dark,
Your candle-lit face
Haunting and stark.
Ghouls, ghosts, and witches,
Living dead zombie hordes,
None are as eerie
As carved-faced gourds.
by John Hansen © 2016
Now I find myself branching out and experimenting with short fiction, and thoroughly enjoying this, especially flash fiction.
I have been fortunate to have two poems made into songs and recorded. The first "On the Road to Kingdom Come" by Al Wordlaw, and the second, "If I Could Write a Love Poem" by award-winning Israeli/British singer Tally Koren.
My services increasingly in demand as a freelance writer and I have ghost-written the text for a number of children's books and educational tutorials.
It has taken me many years of searching and restlessness to realise that my life's passion is to write. It saddens me that I wasted so many years not devoting to that, but thinking positively, the experiences gained over those years are now wonderful material for my stories and poems.
I want to try to bring a new focus on poetry and try to make it appealing to a new generation of young people and those who thought they never liked or understood it before.
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I love it John! I was happy to see some Halloween posts come out after that challenge. You can pop out great poems with seemingly little effort. Well done.
Thank you, Phyllis. Glad you enjoyed this Halloween poem. Yes, it is great to see a few being published already after your challenge.
Great John, you captured the mood beautifully. I didn’t realize Australian’s didn’t previously partake. It’s changed here quite a bit over the years. We pull our children a bit closer, due to the crazies who have made it less safe. Still, a fun holiday to let loose and enjoy with the family. Well done.
Best,
Mel
Thank you, Mel. It is only in recent years that Halloween has been enbraced here ..mainly started for commercial purposes I think. The stores could see the money making potential. We still don’t get a holiday for it though, which is a shame.
Great poem John and too bad you missed Halloweens as a child, really terrific fun and all that gooey good stuff!
Hey, thanks Jackie. Yes, I was envious. Never mind, it wasn’t the only fun thing as a child. We used to have Guy Fawkes (Cracker Night) at least where we could let off fireworks.
Nicely penned John, and even though we have no real experience with Halloween, coming from Australia, your delightful poem was filled with wonder and its intent.
Thanks, Tony. Glad I was able to capture the Halloween atmosphere despite my limited Aussie upbringing.
Simply spooky and delightful!
Thank you, Rasma. Glad you liked this.