The Dialogue Poem Contest:
A Conversation Between a Human (~) and the House the Human just Built (+)
* * * * * * * * * *
~ What do you think, my newly-built house, should we create a lawn?
+ There once was beautiful wild grass here, but since you arrived it’s gone.
.
~ We’ll amend the soil and plant some seeds. We’ll grow new grass with our skills.
+ Is there enough water nearby for that?
~ No, we’ll pipe it over here from the hills.
.
+ So you’ll till and plant and bring the water. Y’know weeds will sprout in a flash.
~ We’ll pull those out, one-by-one.
+ And eat them?
~ Of course not. You kidding? They're trash.
.
+ Well, the wildlife will enjoy that grass, growing nice and sweet.
~ Um, no, they’re not invited. It’s not for them to eat.
+ It’s not for food?
~ No, it’s for beauty. Pretty, like a resort.
+ Oh, tall and willowy, like a prairie?
~ No, we’ll cut it each week. Keep it short.
.
+ Well, the part you cut, can’t that be eaten? It’s a lot of nutrients to waste.
~ We can’t be bothered with that.
+ But it’s food!
~ Once we cut it, shrug, it’s erased.
.
+ In summary... we had some grass you eliminated.
~ I guess.
+ Now you’ll cultivate some more.
~ Yes.
+ Expending lots of resources.
~ Um.
+ To create food that you’ll ignore.
.
~ Look, it’s not as crazy as it sounds.
+ Huh.
~ We’re appreciating the natural green.
+ Right.
~ But if you’ll listen I want to tell you…
+ Yes?
~ About pumpkins for Halloween.
<mic drop>
©2024. Luksi Bayou. All rights reserved.
About the Creator
Luksi Bayou
Luksi Bayou (she/her) writes fiction inspired by lived experiences. Sometimes she also writes about data. More stories on Medium: https://tinyurl.com/ys27mm7x
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📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 01/08/2026
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Comments (8)
well written, will love for you to write more, you such a great writer
nice conversation.
Congratulations on you placement on the Leaderboard Luksi. Well done.
The house made a lot of valid points, lol. Loved your take on this challenge!
The silly things that we humans do, right, I always say that aliens watch us and wonder if we are mad. Great conversation from the view of the house, ah yes pumpkins, I get that, I once planted a seed, it grew so many fruits I had to give my neighbors some, but that was in Jamaica, heat and sunshine. So great to see poems from you.
This is CLEVER and the pumpkin at the end? Hahahaha I loved it💕
Ahah, nice one!
Interesting and delicious content, keep posting more.