<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><span style="caret-color: rgb(52, 52, 52); color: rgb(52, 52, 52); font-family: "Poets Electra Roman No 2"; font-size: 2.5rem; font-style: italic; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(30, 30, 30, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Thanksgiving Turkey</span><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><p class="textLarge" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: large; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">by George Parsons Lathrop</p><div data-v-1e4a20ad="" data-v-6ee59ef1="" class="poem__actions vertical dark" style="box-sizing: border-box; left: -3rem; position: absolute; width: 33px; -webkit-box-flex: 1; flex-grow: 1; margin-bottom: 2.4rem; caret-color: rgb(52, 52, 52); color: rgb(52, 52, 52); font-family: "Poets Electra", Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 20px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(30, 30, 30, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><ul data-v-1e4a20ad="" class="poem__actions__social d-flex flex-wrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-box-direction: normal; display: flex !important; flex-flow: column wrap !important;"><li data-v-1e4a20ad="" class="pr-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; padding-right: 0.6rem !important;"><a data-v-1e4a20ad="" rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/share?text=Thanksgiving%20Turkey&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpoets.org%2Fpoem%2Fthanksgiving-turkey" class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 122, 179); text-decoration: none;"><img data-v-1e4a20ad="" src="https://poets.org/social/twitter.svg" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-style: none; vertical-align: middle; margin: 6px;" data-unique-identifier=""></a></li><li data-v-1e4a20ad="" class="pr-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; padding-right: 0.6rem !important;"><a data-v-1e4a20ad="" rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://tumblr.com/share/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpoets.org%2Fpoem%2Fthanksgiving-turkey&name=Thanksgiving%20Turkey" class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 122, 179); text-decoration: none;"><img data-v-1e4a20ad="" src="https://poets.org/social/tumblr.svg" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-style: none; vertical-align: middle; margin: 6px;" data-unique-identifier=""></a></li><li data-v-1e4a20ad="" class="pr-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; padding-right: 0.6rem !important;"><a data-v-1e4a20ad="" href="https://poets.org/print/poem/57c01e24-eeba-40cc-baf2-caea9a66f43b" class="" rel="noopener" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 122, 179); text-decoration: none;"><img data-v-1e4a20ad="" src="https://poets.org/social/print.svg" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-style: none; vertical-align: middle; margin: 6px;" data-unique-identifier=""></a></li><li data-v-1e4a20ad="" class="pr-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; padding-right: 0.6rem !important;"><a data-v-1e4a20ad="" target="_self" href="https://poets.org/poem/thanksgiving-turkey#" class="" role="button" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 122, 179); text-decoration: none;"><img data-v-1e4a20ad="" src="https://poets.org/social/embed.svg" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-style: none; vertical-align: middle; margin: 6px;" data-unique-identifier=""></a></li><li data-v-1e4a20ad="" class="pr-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; padding-right: 0.6rem !important;"><a data-v-1e4a20ad="" target="_self" href="https://poets.org/poem/thanksgiving-turkey#" class="" role="button" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 122, 179); text-decoration: none;"><img data-v-1e4a20ad="" src="https://poets.org/social/collection.svg" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-style: none; vertical-align: middle; margin: 6px;" data-unique-identifier=""></a></li></ul><div data-v-1e4a20ad="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div><div data-v-1e4a20ad="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div></div><div data-v-6ee59ef1="" class="poem__body px-md-4 font-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Poets Electra", Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 1.1rem; caret-color: rgb(52, 52, 52); color: rgb(52, 52, 52); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(30, 30, 30, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; padding-right: 0.5rem !important; padding-left: 0.5rem !important;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">Valleys lay in sunny vapor, <br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> And a radiance mild was shed<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">From each tree that like a taper<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> At a feast stood. Then we said,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> "Our feast, too, shall soon be spread,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Of good Thanksgiving turkey."</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">And already still November<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Drapes her snowy table here.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Fetch a log, then; coax the ember;<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Fill your hearts with old-time cheer;<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Heaven be thanked for one more year,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> And our Thanksgiving turkey!</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">Welcome, brothers—all our party<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Gathered in the homestead old!<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Shake the snow off and with hearty<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Hand-shakes drive away the cold;<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Else your plate you'll hardly hold<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Of good Thanksgiving turkey.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">When the skies are sad and murky,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> 'Tis a cheerful thing to meet<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Round this homely roast of turkey—<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Pilgrims, pausing just to greet,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Then, with earnest grace, to eat<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> A new Thanksgiving turkey.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">And the merry feast is freighted<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> With its meanings true and deep.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Those we've loved and those we've hated,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> All, to-day, the rite will keep,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> All, to-day, their dishes heap<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> With plump Thanksgiving turkey.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">But how many hearts must tingle<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Now with mournful memories!<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">In the festal wine shall mingle<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Unseen tears, perhaps from eyes<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> That look beyond the board where lies<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Our plain Thanksgiving turkey.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">See around us, drawing nearer,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Those faint yearning shapes of air—<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Friends than whom earth holds none dearer<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> No—alas! they are not there:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Have they, then, forgot to share<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Our good Thanksgiving turkey?</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">Some have gone away and tarried<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Strangely long by some strange wave;<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Some have turned to foes; we carried<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Some unto the pine-girt grave:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> They'll come no more so joyous-brave<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> To take Thanksgiving turkey.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">Nay, repine not. Let our laughter<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Leap like firelight up again.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">Soon we touch the wide Hereafter,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Snow-field yet untrod of men:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Shall we meet once more—and when?—<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> To eat Thanksgiving turkey.</p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><font color="#1a1818" face="Catamaran, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 24, 24); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">——————————————</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 24, 24); color: rgb(26, 24, 24); font-family: Catamaran, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></p></div><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">http://www.MoscowCares.net</span></div><div><br></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><br></div><div>“A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met.”</div><div>- Roy E. Stolworthy</div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>