My brother and I captured insects
to watch them squirm on the tin cellar door.
A merciless ordeal in the humid summer heat.
A cruelty of young boys I’m still trying to forgive.

Down in the cellar, were dust-covered shelves
lined with jars of fruits and vegetables of all kinds.
The dark and the dust and the musty smell
fired our imaginations. Instead, we saw shrunken heads,
creatures, goblins, and frights of all kinds
desperate to escape from their green glass prisons.

Spooked, we ran up from the cellar and into the kitchen.
There, beside a boiling pot, were empty green jars.
My brother and I could hardly contain our excitement!
We were going to have some of the ghoulies from below
grandma was preparing for our dinner around six!