giant Pikachu
floats above the skyline
Thanksgiving Day Parade

the balloon handlers
drop the ropes
Garfield takes flight

kitchen wall
little hands
leaving turkeys

hands clasped
we circle the table
heads bowed

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

bottom quarter champion

realizing
we're growing up—
he strokes his beard

cousin drinks beer
underage
my parents upset

Grandma sleeps
as the television
shadows her face

grandmother
cooking everyone
their favorite dish

TOP half champion

CHAMPION

BOTTOM half champion

texas hold 'em
around the table
one beer

family game night
gone for a second . . .
partnered with the crazy uncle

brisk fog
in the empty darkness
I exhale deeply

Thanksgiving morning
I roll back over
into another world

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

bottom quarter champion

I fake another laugh
at a bad joke . . .
mom brings out pie

thanksgiving dinner
no family
no fighting

the family
all together
to discuss politics

laughter
soon gives way to brooding
politics