Hugs
Lori
TURKEY TOM
by Chad Gardiner
I lived in the country when I was a boy,
With my parents, my sister and my brother Roy.
We were poor folk for we had trouble on the farm,
a drought one year, then a locust swarm.
But we had chickens and pigs, a few cows and some sheep,
And a garden spot so we had food to eat.
I raised a turkey from a little chick,
He was always with me, even fishin in the crick,
My pal Turkey Tom, Pa was to slay;
To eat for dinner Thanksgiving Day.
I stayed in my room, in silence, in shock,
Away from the scene at the chopping block.
When dinner was ready, I was called from my room,
I didn't feel thankful, I was filled with gloom.
The table was covered with our Thanksgiving meal.
Prepared with that down home cooking skill.
Turkey Tom was on a platter, all glazed and brown,
A tear came to my eye and I saw Ma frown.
She nodded her head toward the door,
And I guess Pa couldn't stand it no more.
He went to the door and opened it wide,
His face was filled with fatherly pride
Waddling in came my fine feathered friend,
it was Turkey Tom, a true Godsend.
The turkey Ma baked was a gift from the neighbor,
A fine plump bird we were soon to savor.
Roy fetched a chair and Ma set a place,
Turkey Tom sat down and Pa let me say grace.
Turkey Tom folded his wings and bowed his head,
And this is the Thanksgiving prayer I said;
Thank you God for the food at hand,
For the turkey and stuffing, the biscuits and yams,
For the taters, and gravy and pumpkin pie.
For the crops in the field and the sun in the sky.
Thanks for brother and sis and Pa and Mom,
But most of all thanks for Turkey Tom.
What a great poem!! I loved it. Thanks for sharing. 
Shirley
