hap
(valueless until we add value)

what shall I say
it’s Wednesday of
the arc
day before a holiday in
this case
USA Thanksgiving
when we observe and also
ignore
the colonial experience
we celebrate

the Indians
       misnamed
who kept the settlers alive
so
they could lose their land
and lives
push their identities to arid
places out west until
mineral wealth
pushed
them farther

fish to fertilize
corn a gift from the Americas
with
turkey
and pumpkins

and may I go back to say a word
in favor
of popcorn
boon to so many
watching
movies

black and white
the natives were in color
two groups as there must be
two groups
not
one nation-tribe

and yet they came together
hunger
and fear
righteousness
after
survival

and we have so many
mores now
to practice

they are idle

parades
in which practitioners aren’t
idle
football games for distraction
snacks
and later tryptophan
and
maybe
       snacked and
       drugged
the day will go easy
on gathered
drama
perturbations

and
then to plan
any adventures for tomorrow
when
we might rush the stores
predawn

c l couch


photo by The Cleveland Museum of Art on Unsplash—A Rooster and Turkey Fighting c. 1680 Melchior de Hondecoeter (Dutch, 1636–1695) Netherlands Oil on canvas John L. Severance Fund 1986.59 https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1986.59