Jack O'Lantern

[deckardcanine]

In Irish lore, one Stingy Jack,
A lazy blacksmith, had a knack
For trickery. He asked Old Scratch
To drink with him and turn to cash
To pay for it. The devil did,
And Jack picked up the coin and hid
It in his pocket near a cross
Of silver, trapping like a boss.
He asked to spend the coming year
Without a visit, much less fear
That if he died, his soul would go
To hell. The devil promised so,
And Jack released him. One year passed,
And then they met again at last.
Jack asked the fiend to climb a tree
To grab some fruit, and that’s when he
Engraved a cross within the bark.
(That devil really lacked a spark
Of intellect.) This time Jack said
To leave him be ten years instead.
Within those years, Jack passed away,
But with his sins, he couldn’t stay
In heaven, so he went in search
Of someplace where his soul could perch.
The only item Jack would take:
A turnip carved so he could make
A lantern with a fading ember.
Afterward, folks might remember,
Taking pity on his soul
With veggie lanterns for his stroll.
They’ve used potatoes, larger beets,
And pumpkins all along the streets.