Jack O’Lantern Dreams

Once a greedy little boy Ate too much pumpkin pie at night, And the awful dreams he had Made his hair stand up in fright. Dreadful grinning pumpkin faces Crowded all around his bed, And every grinning pumpkin face Showed a fire inside the head. “We are ghosts,” the faces shouted, “Of the pumpkins in those pies, If you had not been so greedy, We would not before you rise.” Then the dreadful firelit faces Faded slowly out of sight, But the awful pain inside him Lasted nearly all the night.