Kliban's Cats by B. Kliban for November 24, 2016

Not one of his best. Looks like someone else drew it…or rather scribbled it.

Childhood Thanksgivings

At five AM my mother starts

To roast the turkey brown

She wonders as she cooks

If there’s enough to go around

The china that’s kept out of reach

Is brought out for the day

While waiting in my Sunday best

I’m careful at my play

The extra leaf is added on

The tablecloth is spread

The forks on left, and spoons on right

Is what my mother said

The relatives start to arrive

Each with a little treat

And finally, at half past 3

We all will take a seat

Adults sit at the table large

We small ones have our own

We say we can not wait until

We all are also grown

The grown-ups’ wine, kids’ ginger-ale

Is poured and passed about

The turkey and the fixings

Have all been taken out

Everything looks wonderful

I’m thinking with a sigh

We bow our heads and give our thanks

Like Thanksgivings gone by

And as I sit and think a bit

Of Thanksgivings before

I’m thankful for those gathered here

And thankful for much more

© “Amalthea Celebras” K.C. Fahel 20 November 1991