Like two green fingers reaching from the grave —
Claws of a witch who comes to wreak her curse —
The pumpkin sprout emerges from a cave
Of loam and mulch its creepers to disperse.

It is the first to rise, a wilding seed
That overwintered ‘neath the leaves and moss —
Even in spring October’s fruit must breed;
Even in summer ripens autumn’s loss. 

[K. A. Opperman is a poet and artist residing in Southern California. He is the author of such books as Past the Glad and Sunlit Season: Poems for Halloween, and October Ghosts and Autumn Dreams: More Poems for Halloween, both of which were published by Jackanapes Press. His art can be found both on Facebook and Instagram, under the handle @OpperArt. While not writing or drawing, he can usually be found in his garden, growing pumpkins.]