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

For dVerse Poetics: Food for Thought

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

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 monsters…there’s beauty in it...