Pumpkin Party

........Last night we had carving of pumpkins. I have written a lot lately about poetry - sorry to be such a bore - but it is an escape, for me anyway. Lines from poems often roll around in my head or pop up when I'm about to write, which happened just now. The first line of the post is actually an echo from the title of a poem by Henry Reed, "Today we have naming of parts."

Carving pumpkins is a family affair in our house. I go out with my husband to pick out two pumpkins at the local supermarket. We used to go into the country to buy one from a farmer, but they were very expensive and quite small for the money. So now we drive three blocks to the grocery store, where they are more of a lost leader and buy two very plump pumpkins.

My husband hollows them out and our two sons carve them. Here is my eldest's take on the horrid Jack o' the Lantern.

Pumpkin - with outside light

Here he is again with a candle.

Pumpkin with inside light.

And here is my youngest's interpretation. He looks a lot like Jack from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Here is a link to a wonderful history of the pumpkin and why it is called One of the Three Sisters.

Finally the poem mentioned above, in case you were interested. It really has nothing to do with pumpkins. It's the wrong season as well. However, the title is orange.

Naming of Parts

Today we have naming of parts. Yesterday,
We had daily cleaning. And tomorrow morning,
We shall have what to do after firing. But today,
Today we have naming of parts. Japonica
Glistens like coral in all the neighboring gardens,
And today we have naming of parts.

This is the lower sling swivel. And this
Is the upper sling swivel, whose use you will see,
When you are given your slings. And this is the piling swivel,
Which in your case you have not got. The branches
Hold in the gardens their silent, eloquent gestures,
Which in our case we have not got.

This is the safety-catch, which is always released
With an easy flick of the thumb. And please do not let me
See anyone using his finger. You can do it quite easy
If you have any strength in your thumb. The blossoms
Are fragile and motionless, never letting anyone see
Any of them using their finger.

And this you can see is the bolt. The purpose of this
Is to open the breech, as you see. We can slide it
Rapidly backwards and forwards: we call this
Easing the spring. And rapidly backwards and forwards
The early bees are assaulting and fumbling the flowers:
They call is easing the Spring.

They call it easing the Spring: it is perfectly easy
If you have any strength in your thumb: like the bolt,
And the breech, the cocking-piece, and the point of balance,
Which in our case we have not got; and the almond blossom
Silent in all of the gardens and the bees going backwards and forwards,
For today we have the naming of parts. 

Tonight we will have screaming of witches. 

Have an amazing day!!