Jack o' Lantern

Samhain, Night of the Dead, All Hallow's Eve, Halloween, call it what you will. A scary time when ghouls and ghosts return to earth. However, for many an enigmatic time when our parallel worlds a-line for a short while so we may reconnect with passed souls.

Jack o' Lantern

Jack o’ Lantern sits on the old oak sill;

scary hollowed eyes blaze orangey bright.

Circle cast with hawthorn, and all is still,

even-tide folds to the darkening night.

A soul long passed we'll merry meet once more

and ride as one on the winds of winter;

the biting chill, no match; for love will thaw.

Jack o’ Lantern wards dark spirits thither.

And now the time is nigh to bid goodbye,

we’ll meet again on the wheel’s full turn.

So the sun rises in the eastern sky

Jack o’ Lanterns eyes, dead, no longer burn. 

Now Jack o' Lantern your work is complete
back to Will-o-the Wisp on the bogs of peat.

© Julian Clarke 2017

Notes

A new piece I penned for this season and is loosely inspired by Irish mythology.

Linked to Poets United Sunday Pantry

October

The dew soaked grass feels soft as silk
Shrouding the valley floats a ghostly mist.
Just for a breath the sun rests on tree tops
Climbing slowly for a new autumn day.

Golden brown leaves fall from the trees
Dancing in a frenzy swirling around,
Foreboding clouds sail on blustery winds
A watery sun hides behind one, it rains.

Julian Clarke © 2017

Linked to Sundays Pantry at Poets United

1973 - 74 : Up The Creek

One ha’ penny in his begging bowl

dirty finger nail scratches his soul.

Oi mate! can you spare me a smoke?

Get a job, snarled a grey suited bloke.

The call of the ballot, eighty one percent

unions have given their consent;

the radio broadcasts a stark news flash,

miners on strike, there’s no more cash.

See ’em all on a 3 day week,

the lights have gone out

we’re right up the creek.

Disgruntled bean counters on the 3^rd floor

the plaques fallen off  the directors door:

Rod Stewart bangs on, You wear it well.

From his ivory tower the grey suit fell.

See ’em all on a 3 day week,
the lights have gone out

we’re right up the creek.

Dirty finger nail scratches his soul

two ha’ pennies in his begging bowl,

he looks on the suit with little care

Oi mate! I've got a ha'penny to share.

See ’em all on a 3 day week,
the lights have gone out

we’re right up the creek.

Notes:
To help conserve coal stocks and limit the commercial use of electricity the prime minister of the day,  Edward Heath, on 31 December 1973, implemented the Three-Day Work Order which remained in force up to 7th March 1974. Along side the miners strike the government had to deal with the 1973 - 74 oil crises / embargo.
(How those glasses become more rose tinted as time passes with age)

Julian Clarke © 2017

Linked to
Poets United, Sunday Pantry