Well–Halloween is coming up and Linda Larson is haunting us with a couple of her very germane poems.
Best Costume
Mother covered a Quaker Oatmeal box
With tinfoil, stuck a hanger through it for a hook,
Made two bright spots of rouge on my cheeks,
A red bandana in my hair, jingly bracelets and
A black eye patch to complete my Captain Hook look.
First prize at the party was a black kitten I named Soot.
Mother was in on it all along.
In my mind
My father and I are still seeking the perfect pumpkin
From farm stand to farm stand…Just he and I.
My favorite part is using the big kitchen spoon to ladle out
The orange, stringy and fragrantly-seeded insides
And putting them splat onto the Sunday funnies
Spread out on our metal, white enamel kitchen table.
Mother stays out of it.
She is humming Stardust,
Staying busy, baking pies.
– Linda Larson
To have your work considered for the LYRICAL send it to:
Doug Holder 25 School St. Somerville, Mass. 02143
dougholder@post.harvard.edu
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