Settled in to eat the carrots.
Orange and very long.
They were Viking boats!
Sang a warrior's song.
Put lentils on the sides,
Brave warrior shields with green bean spears.
No one could hide.
Ready to land.
Floated across the gravy.
Mashed potatoes were near.
Landed in the fluff.
The monster stabbed them all.
Down the gullet they went.
Real quick!
Momma said, "Eat them all,
They will improve your eyes!"
Does that mean my eyes will glow?
Like the monster I have inside?
Maybe it was that last biscuit layered with butter and jam
or could it have been those sodas only around nine cans
Never just one bucket of extra crispy southern fried chicken
could make you feel bloated and heading to the can
Never those mashed potatoes or drinking gravy from a cup
probably that single green bean when I knew I had enough
Ears and ears of corn so sweet and buttery to the taste
curly fries drowned in ketchup smeared all over my face
Only a couple wedges of corn bread heavy with butter
and that macaroni and cheese just one serving than another
Fried okra and cabbage with lots of bacon and diced ham
those savory baked beans swimming in molasses man oh man
And a pitcher of brewed sweet ice tea with sugar from sugar cane
now using artificial sweeteners or corn syrup would be insane
And for dessert a hot Dutch apple pie with ice cream a la mode
capped off with chocolate syrup mixed in that hot cup of joe
Such a light lunch so why do I feel so overstuff
that extra large pizza for dinner will just have to be enough.
The trouble with aging
Is people believe it requires
A “growing up”
A period of maturation
(did I spell that right).
I’ve been around for
Three quarters of a century
With a foot in two millennia
And I still think Pharts are Phunny.
All my secrets are safe
Because I only told them to the dog.
I still make carrot and green bean fangs
At the supper table.
If I “grew up” I wouldn’t
Climb trees to “get that apple, Papa”
Get on the trampoline with a 2 year old
Stop for Slushies with my Granddaughter
on the way home from her gymnastics class.
When asked “How are you doing?”
I reply: “I’m sitting up, taking nourishment,
Tying my own shoes and going out to play”.
We used to label our Iowa garden at the end of the rows with seed packets.
We would plant the row first, sprinkiing the teensy seeds and covering them.
Then we would nail the seed packet to the stake at the end of the row.
Like little soldiers we saw peas packets, carrot packets, radish packets.
Lettuice packets, potato packets, green bean packets, rows and rows of them.
Mom always threw in two rows of flowers - usually marigolds and zinnias.
Dad rolled his eyes, but I think he liked them too; we kids did also.
Our table always had fresh vegetables, berries and mushrooms from nature.
The rest of the field next to the garden was left to plant corn. Big juicy corn.
We lived in Iowa, so we never had to label corn; everyone recognized it.
We never create fancy; the mother-in-law told her son’s bride.
Just bring a sack of chips or something, as long as it’s not fried.
Aunt Carol brings the green bean casserole and the potatoes sure.
Uncle Ed is the only one who can make gravy flat with his stir.
Thanksgiving is casual, and I will host it every year I am alive.
Just bring my sweet son and be at my door by a quarter til five.
The bride offered to bring candied yams, she thought hers were fine.
Sorry, her mother-in-law replied. “If they aren’t mine, we can’t dine.”
What about pies? The young woman queried, trying to please.
I usually bake with my mother, and we make them up in threes.
We have that covered, the woman said. Just be a sweet dear.
Bring my boy home, and you will be more than welcome here.
Two turkeys in the oven and candy yams
Whipped mash potatoes, cranberry sauce from a can
A green bean casserole and a relish plate as planned
Corn bread dressing and sage dressing for the big man
Lots of butter and dinner rolls with jellies and jams
Deviled eggs a dish of mac and cheese with bits of bacon
Giblet gravy and sweet cream corn we understand
Pumpkin pie and cherry and don't forget the pecan
And for goodness sake must serve the honey spiral ham
Have Sprite and sweet tea liquor won't be banned
A big green toss salad and don't forget the Thousand Island
And if you get a chance a bucket of original KFC fried chicken
Some fresh fruit and veggies will make the table look grand
Some light soups and breads and cheeses we can do again
Or we can all head to Golden Corral, load up the big van.
Thanksgiving 2021 does not appear to be much fun
for it will only be two little doggies and me
I guess I will share my meal by watching the NFL
only dear lord please keep the players off their knees
I have too many preconditions to risk virus infection
better play it safe and remain home in place
But never in the least should I miss Thanksgiving feast
A roast turkey and spiral ham
mashed potatoes and candy yams
Gravy and hot rolls please
cornbread dressing and mac and cheese
A green bean casserole and a relish plate
no cream corn would be a big mistake
Cranberry sauce ready from a can
devil eggs the holiday demands
Don't forget mom's holiday noodles
broccoli pour on melted cheese in oodles
Pecan and pumpkin pie
loads of whipped cream applied
Wash it down with fresh brew tea
a better holiday meal could not be
But is this a little much for two doggies and me
the cooking and cleaning for just us three
Think I got a more practical idea
three frozen roast turkey dinners for our Thanksgiving meal.
Voices around our thanksgiving table
reminiscing, recalling the year’s events,
happily affirming that we are still alive.
The older generation begin to tell stories
about the good ol’ days of yesteryear,
what they still remember of age four and five.
All the traditional dishes appeared this year
Aunt Lil’s same ol’ green bean casserole.
The cooks are pleased, turkey turned out fine.
We pause, bowing our heads for the blessing
and, while the plates are being passed,
I will uncork our favorite red dinner wine.
Soon, a sudden hush falls over the room
while plates are passing around for seconds,
well, except for Grandpa’s lip-smacking chewing.
The stacks of dirty dishes are growing taller
as we finish our helping of spicy pumpkin pie
and settle down for an afternoon of football viewing.
written November 3, 2021
[a Tri-Con poetry form created by Connie
Marcum Wong, a Poetry Soup poet.]
HONORABLE MENTION
Thanksgiving Poetry Contest
All Poetry - December 14, 2021
'Twas the eve before Christmas and through all the house chaos reigned!
With all to be done, rapport 'twixt Ma and Pa was rather strained!
No creatures were stirrin' (as yet!) - Cecil the cat nor Horace the dog,
Who lay snuggled and snoozin' nigh the warmth of the yuletide log.
Ma was fixin' a green bean casserole and ham for dinner next day.
Pa wrestled with assemblin' a doll house and bike without delay.
The kids were snuggled in bed wonderin' how reindeer flew,
And prayin' Santa wouldn't get stuck sneakin' down the chimney flue!
The kids left salami and milk nigh the tree for dear old Santa Claus.
Cecil lapped up the milk and Horace ran off with the salami in his jaws!
The cat took a likin' to the sparklin' ornaments on the Christmas tree,
Knockin' it to the floor and hidin' behind the couch after his little spree!
Ma and Pa worked all night - the grandfather clock chimed four!
Suddenly, there was a persistent rappin' comin' from the front door!
Who should appear with bags in hand but Uncle Clyde and Aunt Sue!
"We were passin' through and thought we'd spend Christmas Day with you!"
Entry for L. Milton Hankins' "Parody Of A Famous Poem" Contest
Alas, hordes of ravenous relatives from very far and even near,
Won't be celebratin' at dear old Grandma's bountiful board this year,
Since the corona virus pandemic has spread an ominous cloud of doom.
But hold on! Perhaps you can celebrate via the miracle of Zoom!
You can enjoy from afar your green bean casserole and punkin pie,
Not havin' to tolerate obnoxioius Uncle Clyde sloppin' gravy on his tie!
Clickin' a button will mute Grandpa's interminable prayer of grace,
And spinster Aunt Alice's spewin' inane babble at a furious pace!
The mute button will silence any brawls about politics and religion,
And silence cousin Cletus crowin' about his thrivin' stocks a smidgen!
It won't be the same savorin' pleasant aromas from Grandma's kitchen,
But won't the mute come in handy to silence all the bickerin' and bit..... in'!
(The censors at Soup scrubbed the last word in the last line but I think you get the point!!!)
lets talk food
the weather is cool
let cook
not by the book
get down with turkey sound
let have collard green
some green bean
for the theme some white meat
gravey as a treat
now that finger licking good
you can knock on wood
this meal for all sinner
THE
THINKSGIVING SOULFULL DINNER
Parents now trusted me enough to take my lil' sis out on Halloween!
Sis, a jellybean, me, a green bean, walked to get my boyfriend, just sixteen.
His pet monkey jumped out mean, bit sis, who got no candy, but a vaccine.
Alas, Dorcas Reilly has died, God rest her soul!
Little known was she who served a great role!
Those who knew of her were few,
But you'd mourn her if you knew,
'Twas she who launched the green bean casserole!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
Neon signs glow
In cloudy morning skies
Litter blows by
egnimatic ocean floats in the air
as we sit in green bean, waiting
the 24 carrot will rock tonight
we'll dance under the influence
of an intoxicating new love
grounded in this moment
our lives entwined in celebration
we are easy about our differences
carefree and reckless
the future a hungry canvas
to saturate with vibrant hues
precious firstborn enters our world
and our bond is now stronger
the reality time-shifted, yet
the celebration continues
even though the tendrils of addiction
begin to slow-choke our spirits
memories become infected now
with the anchors of mortality
suffocating truths that bleed pleasures
we once took so casually for granted
no longer resilient about those differences
so let's remember where we started
and why we chose to share our journey
find a way to forgive and move on
before fate leaves the other wondering
what a senseless thing pride can be
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