A Horatian Ode upon a Hungry Light Switch

 

I recently visited a 6^th-grade classroom, and the following writing prompt was on the board:

“There is a light switch in your house that no one knows what it is for, until 1 day you discover its purpose! Write about this day (6–8 sentences, 6 minutes).”

Although there was zero expectation that I do so, I was intrigued by the prompt and wrote my own version—which, however, took me closer to an hour, since I randomly decided to write it in the form of a Horatian ode.  Or possibly Roald Dahl.  In any case:

 

A Horatian Ode upon a Hungry Light Switch
by Deborah J. Natelson

The light switch on the kitchen wall,
Which seemed to have no use at all
Into its own, one day
Came in a dreadful way.

“It’s for the trash disposal drain,
Since tossing food is such a pain,”
My mom hypothesized—
It drained her before our eyes.

 “It’s for the outdoor lights,” Dad said,
“So you don’t have to reach overhead.”
He flicked the light switch on—
And poof!  His head was gone.

 “It’s just for pranks, some silly game;
A switch for losers.  Totally lame,”
Said Older Brother Chen—
He had two legs, back then.

 “It skews our words, so it can roast
Our family like a Reddit post!”
I smell her burning still—
My sis upon the grill.

 That’s four down of our family;
Its own target left is me.
Unless you’ll come to call—
Feed the switch upon my wall.