Giving Thanks & Turkey Carving

“Why he do that?” Ran pointed at the bird.
Nolo defeathered it on the terrace.
Sarn drew Ran back inside. “To cook the bird,
you have to remove its feathers.” Distressed
Ran squirmed, “he’s hurting it.” Sarn shook his head.
“It’s already dead. So it can’t feel pain.”
Ran glared betrayal, but his green eyes plead
to hear that Sarn had not caused the bird pain.
“I found it trapped, dying–Nolo killed it.”
He didn’t know if Nolo had set the trap
and he didn’t want to know. “Are you helping–”
he started to say but stopped when a strap
caught his eye. “Never mind, we’re going hunting
for mushrooms,” he said holding up the scrip.
Ran didn’t smile but he would enjoy the trip.

~  ~ ~

They returned to the mountain with  bag
full of mushrooms. In a fountain they washed
and hurried to Nolo’s suite with their swag
only to find a herd of people stashed
in every corner. Sarn shoved Ran behind him,
not everyone knew he existed; four
years of secret keeping’d almost broke him.
Fear made him back away from the crowd ‘fore
they noticed him and his son. Inari
called him to come in, join them. Faces
turned; he recognized Rangers and didn’t flee.
Ran took his hand; at table two places
waited. Inari accepted the ‘shrooms
with thanks and the celebration resumed.

~ ~ ~

They took their places, Nolo and his son,
Nerule, his wife, Inari, to his left.
Then the medic, his wife, Sarn with his son
claiming his lap, Miren–Gregori’s left
occupied by his wife Ranisapara.
That left the head of the table empty,
’til a frazzled Jerlo, that chimera,
appeared in that spot to carve the turkey.
No one heard or saw him enter, not that
anyone ever did. “Did I miss grace?”
asked the commander. Head shakes answered that.
“Then let’s give thanks for the table we grace,
the food spread on it, the friends gathered round.
Let our thanks rise, our gratitude resound.”

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A happy Thanksgiving to all!
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for following.
Thank you for liking,
sharing and commenting.

Thank you!

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Part of a series of Thanksgiving posts starring Sarn, his brother Miren and his son Ran. You don’t have to read them all but if you would like to, you can see them in order on my Holiday page.

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Read more about Sarn in the Curse Breaker Saga. Like vignette-style poems? I’ve got lots on my Tales of Shayari page or my Poetic Fantasy page.

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What are you #thankful for?

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The last stanza/sonnet works for Daily Post’s prompt: Seat Guru