"The Prank" Poem Published

This poem was published in the November 2019 issue of "Your Country Neighbor."

The Prank

by Janet Sobczyk, 2019

Plant a fragile sapling 

dig, settle in the dirt 

fill in, shore up 

enjoy over long seasons 

notice it growing 

unfolding into the sky 

delayed gratification at its finest. 

Plant a plastic skeleton 

dig, settle in the dirt 

build joists, lay the deck 

enjoy impossible anticipation 

for next homeowner to uncover 

maybe, someday 

delayed gratification most painful. 

Won’t it become Poe’s telltale heart 

lying under the deck 

rasping a dry call to be found? 

Won’t the prankster pry up one board 

show someone, anyone, everyone 

for a shocked look, appreciative chuckle? 

How could he not?

The inspiration for this poem was a Facebook post by “Dad Joke of the Day”: “Redoing the deck, so I went to Party City and purchased a skeleton. Now in 20 years when the new homeowner needs to redo the deck……” The picture showed a realistic-looking, plastic skeleton half-buried in the dirt under the joists of the new deck in mid-construction. Creepy!