EVERY DAY IS A HALLOWED EVE
Bodhisattva Jack O’ Lantern
Its tricks, its treats
“…pumpkins with scary faces carved into them (what we now call Jack-o-Lanterns) were long used to ward off evil spirits. Because of this, carved pumpkins are often associated with protection and dispelling negative energy.” Pumpkin Magick/DavyandTracy.com
My orange heart, carved with the fierce face of a Bodhisattva
A warrior of loving kindness lit from within with desire stoked by sages past, disciples present
Taper eternal yet melting into nothingness – quite a trick of non-attachment! My third eye a door answered with singing bowls of empathy,
the yearning to become a contagion of grace Hollowed out every hallowed day and eve –
spilled seeds of sticky compassion summoning from stone forests of Bo Trees – Sacred Ficus,
Weeping fig abundant with Snickers Candy corn and iridescent, almost indecently orange mellow crème pumpkins mingling with roots and dew renewed, anew anon
©Jenine Bsharah Baines 2021
My favorite trick and treat writing this? Looking up “most popular candy bar” — learning it is my favorite, Snickers, then seeing how beautifully Snickers worked with Weeping fig. Two work horses of yin and yang pulling the cart of my poem home.
Horses are symbolic of Majesty and Spirit — they’re Bodhisattvas, too!
Yes, I’m belaboring this to a potentially-nauseating extreme, depending on your patience with this sort of thing. Yet, get this — Frank Mars named the Snickers bar after his favorite horse, Snickers. (Mary Gillham!)
Thank you, Dennett and team at Weeds and Wildflowers for a great prompt:
And thank you, dearest readers. I raise my spoonful of Pumpkin Spice ice cream to you!
Love.