Friday, December 4, 2015

Set the Table, the Turkey is Here



Noah sees the turkeys.  Noah would like me to bring one inside.
Last Friday, I wrote about the coyotes, owls and moon because I finally remembered what my idea was.  Oddly enough, that was the day after Thanksgiving, and I saw a whole herd of terkies lerking on my lawn...(spell check isn't liking that!) and could have written about that.
I was messing about with the turkey idea, and the old jump rope jingle came to mind...
so I wrote - a turkey poem called Turkey Ramblings.

Hard to see the turkeys when the camera wants to focus on the screen!
The turkeys are always fun to watch.  They just eat their way across the lawn.  Occasionally a tom will stop to ruffle his feathers and look huge in case some cute young hen is looking his way.   On this day it was raining, so feathers were getting pretty damp. They all took turns ruffling to get the raindrops off.

They are all on guard, and will stop to take a look around while they are eating, to see if any danger is eminent.  When they are sure no one is around or looking at them (except me), they resume meandering and eating.

I wonder if sometimes they might count to see if they are all present and accounted for. 

I can just imagine the head turkey counting turkey heads:

"Um... one.  Another one.  Um...wait.  What number was I on?  I'm going to have to start again.  Ok.  One.  And another one.  One over there.  Wait - I counted that one.  Yup.  Counted that one.  So, there's one.  And that one.  And I know I didn't count that one by the house.  One.  Okay, that's it.  I think every one is here. Phew!  I don't think I could count one more turkey!"


Turkey Ramblings

Turkeys, turkeys, 
Meander this way.
Are we all here?
Did someone stray?
Oh, no, don't say!
Mabel, Mabel’s
   on the table!

So sad, too bad
Mabel stayed for lunch
She should have run;
I have a hunch
Oh, dear, steer clear!
Mabel, the guest,
   is dressed and blessed!  

Wishbone in hand
Winner's dinner wish
For more turkey
On empty dish!
Oh, me, oh, my!
Mabel’s ramble -
   a losing gambol!

Not one of our turkeys...
Can you believe it is December? The first December Poetry Friday Roundup is at Buffy's Blog today.  Join Buffy at the Roundup.  It's fixing to be lots of fun!

19 comments:

  1. Donna, turkeys on your lawn-a phenomenon for me. What do you think about placing this poem with one of your photos in Autumn's Palette Gallery?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll see what I can do. It's been so hectic lately trying to finish up Spark submissions and do some other church obligations. But I'll see if on Monday I can get to it if it isn't too late!

      Delete
  2. I love that last 'play' on words of 'gambol', Donna. This is a treat, and it seems you know whereof you write! I thought of you this week and wondered if you would write. Here's another take about those turkeys, described as you've shared, but I like your poem better! http://www.ayearofbeinghere.com/2015/11/richard-taylor-wild-turkeys.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was "gamble" for a while and suddenly I figuratively slapped my head! Of course, "gambol" should be the word! Thanks for sharing that turkey poem!

      Delete
  3. Wow, love your poem and all your turkey talk!! It would be fascinating to get to watch them right outside my window. You're so lucky. Poor Mabel, though. Rest assured, we didn't eat her. No, not us. . . :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are a fun bird to watch. They can fly a bit, but it isn't their preferred mode of transportation. I'm glad they don't name our Thanksgiving dinner "guest" we get at the grocery store!

      Delete
  4. Ha! Your poem had me chuckling, especially: Mabel, the guest, is dressed and blessed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Turkeys are truly chuckle-worthy! Glad you enjoyed it!

      Delete
  5. Thanks so much for sharing your wild turkey back story and poem! Would you believe that wild turkeys are down at the Jersey shore? I've been surprised by as many as 26 at a time in my sandy backyard. Won;t be as surprised next year, now that I know where they've coming from along their Mainely Maine escape route! ...I love jump rope rhymes, but don;t think I ever knew the original that you used...Have you seen the Scholastic reader "Ten Fat Turkeys"? With giggles galore, preschoolers and primary kids loved to recite/reenact that story line, just as much as I just enjoyed yours!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love watching the turkeys. I don't think I've seen the "Ten Fat Turkeys". My grandson may need one of those.

      Delete
  6. Oh my, your turkey poem made me laugh. We had a few up at the farm towards the end of September - they looked pretty serene...bet they didn't know what was in store!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Happy to see you here, Sofia! And glad it made you chuckle! Thanks also for your comment on my Silver Birch Press poem.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The poem was all kinds of fun, but the turkey counting turkeys made me laugh out loud. Bird brains!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! I know! They don't count very well, I'm pretty sure. We joke that our dog counts like that. "Oooh! How many treats do I get? Yea! 1 and another 1!"

      Delete
  9. I'm not sure my Christmas turkey will taste as good after reading your turkey meanderings. I will have to keep reminding myself--it is not Mable / on this table! Love your sense of humor!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, one must not think too much about the thought processes of their meals!

      Delete
  10. Hehehe poor Mabel. I enjoy watching turkeys, although I haven't seen any live ones in years.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When I was a child there were no turkeys in Maine (neither were there ticks, BTW). But now turkeys are a common sight. They are always fun to watch.

      Delete

Drop some breadcrumbs! Let me know you were here!

October

Poetry Friday... Go enjoy some great poetry by clicking links on Poetry Friday's host Matt Forrest Esenwine's page : My poem for Oct...