Letters to the editor for Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015

The Pumpkin Persona

The following slightly obscure prose piece, composed by Chicago’s own famous poet, Carl Sandberg, should be circulated among chid revelers everywhere so they can learn and keep the carved Halloween pumpkin’s persona in right perspective. The composition is a favorite of mine which I’ve always included in all my holiday entertainment presentations over the years. This vital poem always commands a great round of applause.

The Pumpkin Persona

By Carl Sandberg

I spot the hills with yellow balls in autumn —

I light the prairie cornfields,

Orange and tawny gold clusters,

And I am called a pumpkin!

On the last of October when

Dusk is fallen, children,

Holding hands, circle ‘round me,

Singing ghost songs and

Love to the harvest moon.

I am a jack-o’-lantern then,

And with terrible teeth —

But the children know I’m only fooling.

Thane Cornell

Carson City

Autumn

Pumpkins, pumpkins in the patch

Our backyard garden without a latch

All the colors of fall so true

Growing each day

What else can they do?

Bonfires in the streets

With marshmallows too!

Autumn, oh, autumn

I love the most

Warmth of the day

And cider evenings to toast

Thank you, yes, thank you

For this season of fall

Three cheers for your colors

Let’s high five them all!

Jenny Schnabel

Carson City