PUMPKIN TIME!
With Hallowe’en being celebrated this week, many homes and stores are decorated with ghosts and goblins but my favourite symbol for the season is the pumpkin.
2012 a pumpkin carved by Eric
Carved or uncarved these orange structures are very eye-catching.
For years, on my daily drives to a neighbouring city, I drove past a pumpkin field. I saw it evolve from season to season, much like the community I live in. The field of pumpkins inspired me to write a poem for my neighbours at our annual BBQ.
This seemed appropriate to share with this neighbourhood of poets for http://withrealtoads.blogspot.ca/2012/10/open-link-monday_29.html .
NEIGHBOURHOODS*
It seems to me that neighbourhoods
Are kind of like pumpkin fields
Sprouting through clay soil
Growing up
Spurting outwards with sprawling green vines
Budding and blossoming in orange sherbet blooms
Folding frequently at the tip of new creations
Freckle-faced green growth
Bigger and rounder segmented appendages
Turning to orange Carotene taking over
Vines shriveling to brown
The autumn field neighbourhood is dotted with
Orange pumpkin balls of all sizes and shades
‘Til harvest arrives, then, here come the pickers–
Some of the pumpkins are gone to new homes already
But, for those who are able,
A few more orange globes are captured
The carving begins
Designers of all ages plot a unique face
For their autumn gold and soon
Moist seeds are roasted, then salted, not sold
The promise of next year’s crop rests in the field
With the leftover seedlings
Continuing from the remainder of old neighbourhoods.
*Published in Cyclamens & Swords, April 2009 at http://www.cyclamensandswords.com/main/page_beginnings_3.html .
Have a safe week, All!
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Great metaphor in this! Wonderfully crafted poem!
Thanks, Mary! It seemed so the more I thought about it.:)
I like this line: Budding and blossoming in orange sherbet blooms ~ nice tie up in the end to old neighborhoods ~
alas the storm is wrecking the pumpkin decorations and possibly our halloween festivity ~
Grace, glad you liked that line & the tie in.
The winds are gusting strongly here too!
Designers of all ages plot a unique face
For their autumn gold and soon
Moist seeds are roasted, then salted,
Every year! It is a tradition to carve and bake the seeds.
Margaret, such a delightful comment! Like that “autumn gold”!
I like the story telling vibe of this poem. The imagery is great too.
Thanks, Adura!