For Cheryl


Lotsa good smells a-comin' from the kitchen
All the womenfolk is in there a-cookin'
So hungry my belly is a-fixin' to growl
Snitched a tater when Ma wasn't lookin'

 

The moonshine jug's pert nigh empty
Pa and the boys is actin' kinda plucky
Staggerin' too much fer this time o' day
Ma won't notice iffin they's lucky

 

Warshed my hands and smoothed my hair lick
Jest as Ma hollered y'all come and git it
Ever'body knows what's my favorite part
Shore hope I'm a-gonna git it

 

Ever'body's seated; blessin's done said
Ma makes the best vittles I ever tasted
Got a great big family; we'll eat it all up
So's none of the turkey's ever wasted

 

Gramps likes to git the pulley bone
Then make a wish and we all laugh
Takes his good teeth outa his pocket
With the first chomp, eats 'bout half

 

Granny tuck the gizzard and the liver
Uncle Harmon and Jake tuck the thighs
Ma and the platter's jest two chairs away
Gonna git a piece, I reckon, by and by

 

Finally my turn to do the pickin'
Little sister almost tuck it, by heck
Napkin's on my lap; mouth's a-waterin'
So let me at that big ol' turkey neck



Kathleen McCoy Eldridge©
November 2, 2008
All Rights Reserved