on your table place a skull,

small animal skeletons

of shrews, mice, rats disgorged by

forest owls. Lay your gravestone

rubbings as welcome placemats.

 

Down the centre carved pumpkins,

squash, carrots, swede amongst pine nuts,

walnuts and berries, and dark

breads, rye, pumpernickel, dried

yellow, red leaves, open fir cones.

 

Fill a cornucopia

with abundant fruit, apples, pears,

leeks. Fill each cup with apple cider,

sweet wine, or honey mead.

 

Light all with fragrant candles,

to flicker over the plenty.

 

The table is a thankyou,

a blessing on the goodness.

 

Go outside, collect dead plants,

to twist and turn and mold a man

or woman to bring inside,

and place on the table.

 

Give thanks to them and your dead

Ancestors. 

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