Thanksgiving Over The Bay Poem by Barry Middleton

Thanksgiving will always be,
being run out of the kitchen
for too much pesky sampling,
moms, grandmas and aunts
bumping each other there,
the smell of roasting turkey,
orders to the older kids
on setting up the table
as sweet potatoes capped
in marshmallow browned.
No such thing then as
carbohydrate paranoia,
electric mixers whirred
butter mashed potatoes,
yeast roll aroma mixed
with cranberries bubbling
on the crowded stove
with fat boy giblet gravy.
The baking had proceeded
in premeditated stages.
Now there would be
pecan and pumpkin pie,
lemon filled coconut cake
and golden apple pie.
Outdoors, touch football
ruled the cool fall day.
Still there was time
for BB gun practice
with empty beer cans.
At sunset, everyone
headed to the pier
to watch Mobile Bay
take the sun away.
Tomorrow would bring
Black Friday shopping
and the Trivial Pursuit
annual challenge match.
Saturday was reserved
for the holy sacrament
of Alabama/Auburn football.
The quiet evening dictated
a glowing fire in the hearth,
drinks and maybe a song
and endless conversation
as cousins and cousin dogs
got better acquainted,
amid popping flashbulbs
that tried hard to freeze
the momentum of time.