Jack-O-Lantern

Buy a pumpkin, big and round;
Choices at the stands abound.
Pick one with a solid stem –
You’ll know when you’ve found a gem.

Cut a circle ‘round the top;
Dig inside – remove the glop.
Separate each slimy seed;
Patience is what you will need.

Rinse and dry this pumpkin treat;
Spread them on a cookie sheet.
Shake some salt and let them bake;
Undersalting’s a mistake.

Meanwhile, get your sharpest knife;
Time for Jack to get a life.
Carve a face with sneer or grin,
Then you poke a candle in.

Now your Jack-O-Lantern’s set;
Admiration’s what you’ll get.
While you’re feeling downright boasty,
Munch some seeds, all nice and toasty.

Some traditions never die;
This one has a reason why:
Every year at Halloween,
Jack-O-Lanterns steal the scene!

Sight Unseen

My glasses are for distance;
I remove them when I read.
I couldn’t drive without them, though –
That much is guaranteed.

Yet when I sit down for a meal,
My glasses have to go.
They bother me when eating,
Although why, I do not know.

It’s really quite annoying
In a restaurant, ‘cause hey –
I don’t know where to put them
Where they won’t get in the way.

There’s only so much table space
And it seems like a pain
To have them hung around my neck
On some fahcocta* chain.

I guess they’d rest upon my head
But they’d mess up my hair.
I wouldn’t feel too comfortable
If they were perched up there.

If I rated all my problems,
This is bottom of the slate,
But I’m sure that there are other
Glasses-wearers who’d relate.

*ridiculous

Veep Debate

I knew I couldn’t get to sleep
Unless I watched Veep versus Veep;
‘Cause after last week’s dull debate,
I hoped that this would set things straight.

So Biden started his attack,
His plan to make his rival crack;
But Ryan never lost his cool
Or gave us much to ridicule…

Except his blather had no heft.
Without the fluff, not much is left;
For Romney’s plans are not prolific,
Naming nary one specific.

Biden couldn’t stop his smiling
Which, to some, was not beguiling.
Still, despite his constant grin,
He secured a solid win.

Hopefully, some indecision
Will be changed by television.
Voters feeling some connection
Will determine this election.

My Enemy

The mirror is my enemy,
But used to be my friend.
The past is gone forever
And it’s no use to pretend.

Reality’s reflected
And it’s not a pretty sight.
I rarely feel defeated
But I’ve given up the fight.

I’ve hit on a solution –
I just shouldn’t even glance
Into any type of mirror
Under any circumstance.

In a warlike situation,
When you’re entering the fray,
Let your common sense remind you –
Keep your enemies at bay!

Between Time

We’re now in between time;
The closet’s in flux.
Dressing’s a problem
And clothing’s the crux.

Turtleneck? T-shirt?
Long pants or Capris?
Boots worn with tights
Or just socks to the knees?

Temp’s one day 80,
The next 52;
Sift through my dresser –
Don’t know what to do.

Short-sleeved tops nestled
Near sweaters of wool.
Time for decisions;
The drawers are too full.

The closet has waiting
My jackets, some light.
Hard to tell which one
Will help me feel right.

Between time just happens
But doesn’t last long.
At least in the winter,
I won’t be dressed wrong!

Connection

We all know those who cannot meet –
Too busy, too much doing.
We understand and do not feel
That they are misconstruing.

Some that I know can’t even call –
They cannot spare a minute.
I know they wish they had more time;
I have to bear and grin it.

There’s one way to communicate
That somehow never ends;
And if you play, you know that I
Refer to “Words with friends.”

It only takes a minute –
Check your letters, make your move;
But when you hit the “Play” key,
You know someone will approve.

It’s the modern day connector.
When I find myself a’yearn,
I plunk my word upon the board;
It’s now my partner’s turn.

It’s not quite conversation,
But connection nonetheless.
In times like these, such reciprocity
Denotes success!

Half a Holiday

Streets in New York City seem
Unusually quiet.
Business isn’t typical –
You really can’t deny it.

Traffic’s very light;
Though stores are open, schools are not.
Half a holiday is what
It seems that we have got.

Though the market’s selling stocks,
You can’t buy any stamps.
Check your bank before you go - 
They’ve split into two camps.

Workers either celebrate
A day to stay in bed
Or for the other half,
An average day of work instead.

New Years and Thanksgiving
And some others, we’ve agreed
Are days for all to celebrate,
And that’s been guaranteed.

Columbus Day is not the same,
For many folks on staff
Are stuck without a holiday
Or rather, just a half.