Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Jack O' Lantern Soup




Dancing squirrels
have taken note
of the pre-Thanksgiving
feast—

as windblown leaves,
soggy,

like fresh strips
of paper-mâché,
are stuck to everything
in sight—across our lawn, the path to our door.

I wonder, what would they think
if I sprinkled some Sriracha
or pepper-apple chutney
on top

of the jack o’ lantern soup
sitting
on our front porch,
rainwater
filling up
to the smile?

I prefer mine
with sour cream
and a little kick:

a half sandwich,
toasted
with lots
of pepperoncinis.

Do you think
they would mind
sharing

if I brought
and topped

it
with roasted
pepitas

and a caramelized pecan
or two?

I bet Beatrix would know.



© 2014 Jennifer Wagner




Note: I made pumpkin soup for the first time last year.  Soo good. 

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Dear Misery,


I miss you.  I really do.
You were always there
ready to make merry,
happy as a shitfaced clown
on Saturday afternoon.

But back to niceties,
you played the fiddle
and I danced
to your tormented tune

like a
jilted wife
waiting for another truth.

Is that dancing?
Hell, yes.
You should see my shoes,
all tapped out, so to speak.

I love you.  Come back.
Though there’s nothing left here
for you except

a .22.



© 2014 Jennifer Wagner


My more sensitive readers may not appreciate my strong language in this one, and I hope I haven’t lost you, but sometimes, you have to get ugly when you’re fighting monstersthere’s beauty in it...