Thomas A. Turkey 2017-2017

Thomas A. Turkey 2017-2017

We grieve Tom Turkey, my what a shame
Richly deserving of much wider acclaim
We say goodbye, with a prayer sacred, stately:
“No, it’s not dry, I just really like gravy!”
 
He knew from the start like Papa and Mama  
He’d play his part in the white and dark drama
And though for a while he railed at his fate
(he fought but failed at losing some weight)  
 
He became courageous at not keeping silent
“We are not ageless! Why try to deny it?
Still we must try to love one and all
Such a beautiful sky although it will fall!”
 
Chicken Little said, “Wait! What did I hear?!”
He was off meds and manic was near
“Little! Calm down! It’s mere metaphor
Like ‘running around with your head on the floor!’”
 
But the damage was done, it was a little too late  
Little a madman about the sky and its weight  
Painted descriptions scary and gory
Every depiction a variation of “poor me”
 
But that’s another story
 
Meanwhile
 
Thomas A. Turkey saved not his breath
Straight out of Missouri, “Show your face, Death!
There is no defense, we all will be killed
If there wasn’t a fence I’d push a rock up that hill”
 
“Life is unjust but what can we do?
We’ll end up as dust (but first we’ll be stew)
Let us have courage to live in the now
It could be much worse….we could be cows!”
 
“Can you imagine a life without feathers?
We have such an advantage to weather the weather
They have more freedom but who’d want to be them
with no more threesomes with roosters and hens?!”
 
Definitely another story
 
Tommy sneaked under the gate (he couldn’t unlatch it)
Had to speak to his fate: the harrowing hatchet
“You must do what you will, it’s preordained nature
My blood will be spilled, the pain will be major”
 
“I will face you with dignity, to live is to die
But I have to admit this, see, sometimes I cry
and I think, oh I know it’s crazy, but let’s run away
oh it would be amazing, no Thanksgiving Day”
 
“We defy the plan of the Ultimate Maker
we find the land of no butchers and bakers
Romantic sentiment, a wish on the moon
but there is precedent: the dish and the spoon”
 
“They moved to New York, then the spoon fell for the fork
Then  soon the stork and the birth the spork.”
 
Right, another story
 
“Oh Blade your silence is nothing but wise
I’ll face the violence and be cut down to size
And even though I might want out in the worst way
I’ll say goodnight. See you on Thursday!”
 
Tommy lay down his life so that others could eat
He leaves 42 wives who will grieve when in heat
812 chicks mercifully chosen
to be freshly served though some will be frozen
 
And now for our story
 
We are odd and beautiful birds
And if there’s a God, she must be unnerved
How we were given the earth holy and sacred
But devalue its worth, daily we raze it  
So how can we save it?
 
First throw off our lassitude on Gratitude Day
Make a start with our hearts and humbly pray
Give thanks and praise for this wonderful trip
and “Can I have more gravy on this?”  

 

 

 

Marie Caraher 1912-2012

It Goes On

Alone on a farm on Thanksgiving morn
A white-haired woman awoke
And in the same room where she had been born
She got to her knees and she spoke

“God give me the strength to be grateful
for all you have given to me
Let me accept what is painful
And my I rejoice in thee”

The farm had taken her husband,
She’d lost a son to the war
The others had moved to the city
And rarely came home anymore

She got up and made herself coffee
She looked to the meadow beyond
And lifting her eyes to softening skies
She silently welcomed the dawn

And it goes on and on  
Though all must fade away
And though we’ll change, we’ll still remain
the way we are today

And when we’re frightened by the night
Remember there’s the dawn.
Life’s not long, but love is strong
And it goes on and on.

Now some people live without passion
And it’s true you can live without prayer
And some people leave when it’s there turn to grieve
Pretending they never cared

But that white-haired woman lives in us
And we are alone on that farm
And lifting our eyes to softening skies
We see just who we are

It goes on