Turkey Necks and Bat Wings

*Inspired by Cheryl Hoffman’s “The Skin We’re In”  — Go read it!

On a turkey it's called a wattle
on a moose, "the bell," (not “the bottle”)
Those batlike things?
(too small - see wings)
dewlaps*, odd appendages we coddle

We're prisoners of the skin we’re in
some have it thick, some have it real thin
It may seem quite brittle,
when splatted with spittle,
it sloughs right off, again and again

So gobble some buffalo wings
fluffle up your wattle and sing,
“Don’t be obtuse.
I’m not a moose!
I’m a turkey, you big ding-a-ling!"

(*A dewlap is a longitudinal flap of skin that hangs beneath the lower jaw or neck of many vertebrates. While the term is usually used in this specific context, it can also be used to include other structures occurring in the same body area with a similar aspect, such as those caused by a double chin or the submandibular vocal sac of a frog. Source:  Wikipedia)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

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Hoffman Avatar
November 1, 2016 at 7:26 PM
This is too funny lim'rik, gobble gobble, lol!:)
Flats Avatar
November 1, 2016 at 7:37 PM
You've only yourself to blame! ;-) Thanks for inspiring the sillies. bisquicks and gravy ~ j
Bauer Avatar
November 1, 2016 at 4:58 PM
you are such a breath of fresh air, john! i love your sense of humor and how beautifully you inject it into so many of your poems. keep 'em coming!
Flats Avatar
November 1, 2016 at 7:36 PM
Yes boss. (I feel like a newsboy getting a pat on the head from the editor;-) Thanks ilene, for reading my sillies and for your generous praise. ~ john
Smith Avatar
November 1, 2016 at 11:50 AM
All this time I thought you had to have a track to dewlaps...Good one lim'rik.
Flats Avatar
November 1, 2016 at 7:33 PM
Charlie — I got a full sized guffaw outta this! Thanks a bunch. Some days those guffies are hard to come by. Cheeriups! ~ john
P  Avatar
November 1, 2016 at 10:41 AM
You crack me up, can I take a peek inside your poetic head? Fluffled up my wattle and flipped my hair at you too. :)
Flats Avatar
November 1, 2016 at 7:31 PM
Fluffled and flipped! Wow, U B strut'n. Speaking of cracks, the one upside my head seems to be oozing silliness...
Turner Avatar
November 1, 2016 at 9:17 AM
Why not just call it skin, pull it back with a safety pin, looks kinda sleazy, smells kinda cheesy, or take scissors and give it a trim
Flats Avatar
November 1, 2016 at 7:29 PM
This is exactly what I meant by tough competition! You just keep topping yourself. Take a look at Charlie up above. This is a really good day, lots of guffaws, giggles and goofies! Thanks Daniel!
Smith Avatar
November 1, 2016 at 9:04 AM
On yours I'll add some butter...hanging on each word you utter...splatter real thin... you're just like my kin....I bow to you sir stone cutter.
Flats Avatar
November 1, 2016 at 7:26 PM
You kin bow, but don't scrape yer chin. I need yer help for this fight we're in. Lim'riks conquer all!!! Deep fried wattles, bet they gottem' down south;-)
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