We didn’t mean to hurt you.

Our cuts were meant to open,

to free,

to bare your face to the world.

You were meant to smile.

But you caved to tiny doubts,

little spores,

entertained them in your teeth

let them settle in your eyes,

until the face we gave you

crumpled.

Why did you give your smile

to the mold?

#free verse #halloween #jack-o-lanterns #pumpkins #poetry