JACK O' LANTERN

there is nothing like carving a pumpkin into a jack-o'-lantern. 

drunk with power.

giddy with endless choices.

scary-face? whimsical? artistic?

absurd? ornate? stream-of-consciousness?

grab your favorite saw-toothed knife or other weapon of choice.

just start slashing, stabbing, gutting and cutting.

savor the catharsis while inflicting pulpy-carnage.

scrape out the slimy, gruesome guts (be sure to save the seeds). 

O                         O

lacerate and hack away at the giant, fleshy squash.

fine-tune to your heart's content.

[warning: perfectionists may get stuck in this mode, indefinitely.]

prepare the seeds (do not wash).

add salt and spice and bake at 375F.

eat them while crispy-hot.

put a candle in your masterpiece.

light it up for the big reveal:

grotesque. beautiful. hilarious.

I I I I I I I

bask in the mellow-orange glow.

now this is halloween.

enjoy!