L'aura del Campo

My name's not Jack! [257]

My name's not Jack!

Just call me Pumpkin
my name's not Jack.
I hide behind my cousins
way in the back.

I'm nothing to look at
just another squash
with one caveat
I will not be quashed

or carved into a grin
to be marked or hatched.
I have dignity that I defend —
learned in the patch.

Since I must die
don't think of me as decoration
bake me into pie
I'll exceed your expectation.

I promise.
No lie.

Just serve me to the poorest child
or to the homeless man,
those who remember how they smiled
when grandma set the pan

to cool.
Oh, how they all would drool!

My name's not Jack!
I will not die to bully or scare
Allow me to serve those who give back,
who share,

and sharing
let me be grateful and not upset
to die by caring
without regrets.

© Copyright 2020 Kåre Enga [177.257]

32 lines of abab rhyme

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