A Very Mary Variation
Using a borrowed line from Mary Oliver’s “Mussels,” – even before I decide which one to take
A High Falls Halloween
in a corn husk
pumpkin candy basket
at High Falls campsite 65
I see all the good stuff- Kit Kat, Reese’s, Heath, Rolo, Whoppers and Milk Duds –
and gremlins and goblins of all sorts
including Scooby Doo,
the greatest cartoon detective dog of all time
whose master later counted down the hits to number one on AT 40 each week
and I never connected the voice dots
until someone told me
still, the candy in the basket
lures me like a spooky siren to the dark side for a tastier countdown
even before I decide which one to take
I already know it doesn’t much matter
the Halloweeners are thinning
and our basket is still brimming
and besides, one piece, like the apple of Eden, is only step one of the fall
Common Threads 