A Thanksgiving Fable

Written By: George L. Avery

the egg was hatched
and the plot was thick
er than the gravy surrounding a squirrel
it whar an uncommon sight
to find a weasel
a fox a chicken and a hound
breaking bread togither
in the corn crib
along wit a wharf rat
a mouse a barn sparrow
and one fat persian kitty
wit a pink bow in its hair
while the ass by the door
was grinning at the mare
and the pig
whar spooning wit the floor
the cow chewed her cud
wit a relish or two
and the owl in the rafters
asked [WHO will lead us]
she got no reply
but she recieved a black look
for thar was an air o secrecy
aboundin on the ol homestead
o sich confidentiality tha
nary a breath was breathed
nary a word was whispered
nary a clue was allowed unburied
tha might alert the homesteaders
of the impending peril
that awaited them at tomorrow s tiding
whan chanticleer the rooster
would start the ball rolling
by mounting the weather vane
at half before dawn
and crowing just as he did every morning
but with one difference
he'd be dressed in full armament
and with his third cry
the rebellion would begin
as all the animals would arm themselves
and unite behind their chosen messiah
to converge en masse on the farmhouse
wit a [no prisoners taken] stance
shouting [viva la freedom]
[viva la revoluccion]
the rioters were gathered
and the stage was set
the hours crawled by
like a turtle crossing a desert of loose sand
soon the hound was asleep
wit his chin on the pig
and the kitty was curled round the mouse
the night it whar darker
than the ink in a squid
whan foot falls led out from the house
whar the farmer slept
wit his childrun and his wife
who rarely stirred out before dawn
deliberate he walked
like a man with a hard chore
and thar barely squeaked the hinge
o the chicken house gate
whar all were absent save one
thomas the broadbreasted turkey
a great big pompous fellar
wit fanned out tail feathers
and a pontiff s head
bearing a bearded chin
acrest of a sophisticated collar o red
who arose without protest
to be led to the block
o wood whar thar sounded
the THWACK of an axe
ere the farmer returned to the house
wit undressed thomas in a sack
just as the rooster awoke to his chore
at half till dawn in the dark o the morn
[cock a doodle doo] sang he once
[cock a doodle doo] sang he twice
[cock a doodle doo] sang he three
from the weathervane atop of the cabin
the corncrib door was flung open
by no wind but by a tide
a throng of heartened zealots
wit bloodlust in their eyen
they were armed wit club and bayonette
and wearing turtle shells on their head
but lo ho
their chosen one was abducted
and the culpret s spoor was thar
plain as size eleven bootprints
leading to and fro the chicken coop
and on to the farmhouse door
[over here] called the weasel
who d dropped to his knees before the block
[i have found the pontiff s head]
and he shook his trembling fist
at the sun peeking o er the hill
[once again
our revolt has been thwarted
and our noble leader executed
by a heartless enemy
let us lay aside our grievance
to proclaim this turkey day
in honor of good thomas
whos image we will resurrect
whose death we will avenge
one year from this day whan
we ll convene again on the night of its eve
for the egg will be hatched
and the plot will be thick
er than the gravy surrounding a squirrel
whan we will rally behind good thomas
to roust out the infidels
shouting [viva la freedom]
[viva la revoluccion] *sigh*]



which oughta give them substance to ponder
whom would have us to spare the turkey
for it just wouldn t be a thanksgiving
witout heem basking in hees juices
and cranberries ajitter on the table
but that s for tomorrow
and i must get some sleep
if i am to rise up before daylight
and dress out the opulent turkey
i ve been fattening all summer
before the chillun get to stirring aboot
eet wouldn t do for them to larn
whar butterballs come frum

[whal lookee you thar
someone s left a lantern burning
out in the corn crib agin]


*YAWN* †

May yours
be bright and mirthful



11/20/2005




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