You've scooped out all the seeds,
but there's something else a pumpkin needs.
Think of other things -
you must scrape out pesky strings,
and know when to stop.
Otherwise, you'll never chop.
Sure, without a doubt,
I have plenty of effect and impact
In my little life,
And that gives me plenty of reason to live,
But, without question,
My main purpose in life
Is to simply
Prepare for my death.
My wife, on the other hand,
Has a different perspective,
She wants to feel she’s had a good life,
While I just want to have a good death.
(11/27/25)
The amount of time
Alone
Comfortably
Authentic awareness
Suddenly
December
Crawled quietly
Fall fell asleep
My mind
Along with it
How boring
Annoying I must
Be entertaining
Ghouls, goblins, with
Death still friends
With my nightmares
Friday today
My bed, these words
Is what was ate
My mind, I
Thank water
Fending off
Music hearing
It ready, tuning
White noise
I should thank
It before
She calls on
The others
Given little advance warning
November chill sneaks up on us
We brace ourselves for winter
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
The art of preparing a roast
Is different from that of a toast.
Don’t cook it too dry,
Nor crusty like pie,
More moist will most boast of the host.
Preparing a most daring dare,
Of pinning a tail to a bear,
He just couldn’t choose
Which tail type to use,
And thought best to leave matters there.
In this society we prepare for the worst and hope for the best and see which happens first
The city is preparing
For the overwhelming heat
Which, combined with the humidity,
Will knock us off our feet.
There are warnings on the news
About the water we should drink
And the steps that we should take
If somehow power’s on the blink.
It’s predicted that tomorrow
Is when Nature will deliver,
But for now there is some shade
And a breeze down by the river.
JOHN THE BAPTIST
J ohn was a man who was the cousin of Jesus
O ut of the ordinary person was he and more then a prophet
H is work was cut out before his birth and his parents knew it
N ever would he forsake his calling for he understood it well
T he forerunner of our blessed Savior had a work to do
H e called all sinners to repentance while living in desert land
E ntering into his work through the strength of the Holy Spirit
B aptizing all including his Master for this he was called to do
A pplying the words of God to the living every day of his life
p reparing the way for the Savior to enter an example for human life
T aking the backseat poor John was willing to do or die for his Lord
I nsisting that men go follow the Master and enter a life that is pure
S urrendering his will to do all he could to smooth the Savior's path
T hen at last dying at the hands of evil men with his heart still serving his Lord
Copyright, Kathryn Search
You wish to soon see the prince
But your coat you did not rinse.
Prince might pick its stink and wince.
You don’t such add to your sins.
You still want to meet the prince?
John’s has been paining him since
Now, it’s prayers for a means
To dump his likes in dust bins …
Or, perhaps, your hopes his wink,
After nose had snatched the stink?
I swear, you to john he’d link!
Christmas eaves’ drop - red and green leaves of pre-December.
The snow-white clouds, the beard of Santa Claus’ pre-remember.
The elves are surely hammering
whilst Mrs. Claus is yammering.
The yawning of maples and oaks ‘fore their pre-sugar-plum dream.
Boughs with wrappings held high in the pre-burr of holiday theme.
The silver bells are jingling
whilst Mrs. Claus is mingling.
The squirrels gathering chestnuts - heading for the pre-open fire.
This is the time of cheer when old white men are on pre-hire.
Elves in the North Pole, serious
whilst Mrs. Claus is merrily delirious.
Milk, cookies, hot chocolate - cupped, shaped, pre-bakes.
The crisp, grim, lake of late Autumn leaves, Daddy rakes.
From bed, whoops an early “ho-ho-ho!”
whilst Mrs. Claus helps Santa glow.
11/4/2022
A turkey flew over the cuckoo's nest.
A net overhead - flight was not his best.
Caught in the buff.
Now life is rough.
Overhears them drooling for drumstick and breast.
11/3/2022
shop for warmer clothes
say goodbye to summer heat
welcome ol' Jack Frost
Written September 28, 2022
The mystical magical ethereal combination
Of a secret elixir’s initial amalgamation
Gave the warlock and witch dedicated determination
To keep the mysterious combination at their station.
The wicked queen’s expected upcoming coronation
Was as welcomed as a teen’s cramp-filled menstruation
The witch explained this to warlock with weird elation
He was annoyed with her efforts, it caused frustration.
The meadow is a ghostly quiet in late fall
Chirping birds flitting about have gone south
Queen Anne’s Lace and Phloxes are folding
Smaller creatures seek refuge in their burrow
While a cloudy sky offers not a hint of shine
I am preparing for winter, too, thoroughly
Even when I am too chilly, my brain scolding
With hints of streamy breath from my mouth
I, like the critters, prepare for winter’s call.
written November 4, 2021
Sub Categories
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.