Jack o’ Lantern Isobel Dempsey

You pulled me up from the root and broke the stem. Slicing the umbilical cord in two. So I was all your own. The grin on your face as you wrapped me up Warm in the arms of your autumn coat, holding me close to your heart As you took me home. Embracing me, placing me pride of place on your kitchen bench As you pulled out the knife. You cut me open but I didn’t mind. I wanted you to pierce the hole, reveal my secrets My wet and fleshy insides. Unbind me so you can call me ‘mine.’ Slowly you began searching, scooping, scraping I sat there beaming like a harvest moon You dug your hand deep into that wet mess And spooned me out shaking… But I didn’t mind.

But then you kept tugging and you kept breaking Silver spoon scratching, stripping, unmaking Heart aching, No giving, all taking Insides quaking - Stealing my flesh: all that is mine… And it began to hurt Pulling out my heart strings Tearing them away, snapping me, stringing out my veins Each time I would long for you to stay Flesh for flesh –Instead an empty space began to grow As walls appeared – a hole And the space became bigger and bigger A vacuum in my savaged lungs. I was so hollow. Eaten out.

Until I was gaping And I breathed out a sigh of haggard relief that it was over You lifted that sinister knife one final time Carving again A smile into my skin So I stared blank faced grinning wickedly at you My killer Making me full as you dropped the candle in – And I waited for the wick to burn out, Fading. Jack o’ Lantern - ISABEL DEMPSEY