Gratitude 2020: This Blood-Red Couch

My two favorite Thanksgiving traditions: writing a gratitude poem made up of all the things I said I was grateful for that year on this blog and adopting a turkey.

Gratitude 2020: This Blood-red Couch

Nestle in the glorious fall of Cascadia and its bloody brittlegills,

Golden oak leaves alight, drift to the street, and welcome us home.

We, creative adopters, bring home love and companionship.

We, dear aunts, offer imagination and promise poetry.

Worry, in fear, “There will be nowhere to love, dear.”

Worn signs point to Pasado’s to welcome us home.

We, weary dreamers, seek mandalas of light.

We, constant canines, give play and promise poetry.

Becalm this blood-red couch with Sam beside us,

Five warm bodies and soul-filled beings of playful energy.

We, constant carers, watch over a heart-shaped goat girl,

We, calm construction workers, mourn and cheer.

Bestill indoors in our black-hooded bat robes,

Wide trails lead us through wooded lanes of playful energy.

We, woke sleepers, settle into our video games.

We, day walkers, cross over bridges, mourn and cheer.

Cherish the roll of dice and men hurrahing,

Lily piles transform into resting places for our tears.

We, sad phantasms, fear alligators and the blare of upright machines.

We, content sleepers, rest in laps and listen to friends’ voices.

Nestle beside Morticia among the Russula sanguinaria,

Golden paths climb, up to castles, into resting places for our tears.

We, brave carriers, bring greeting cards and letters.

We, restless homebodies, listen for friends’ voices.

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Shel Graves' Sensorium

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