…. a little early, but in the spirit of Ruth Ayres, I’m celebrating. 

Thanksgiving 

I made sweet potatoes with maple syrup, brown sugar
and earth balance
What a good name. 
Earth
Balance. 

I made stuffing
or is it dressing? 
It lives in a pan
not a bird. 
Thank goodness. 

I am thankful for
my family
duh
my friends
of course
The blue sky, the sunshine
I'm lucky
 -- not a Turkey. 
Thank goodness. 

A vegan Thanksgiving
requires a certain 
wall in your brain
so you can remain thankful
hopeful celebratory
instead of 
sad

I apologize to past Turkeys I've 
eaten, years ago. 
I hold the millions of murdered turkeys
in the light
I'm human
humane
Thank goodness.

I don't judge my 
friends, my family
for their 
tradition, their habit, or their tastes
But I have to tell you
even though I know you don't want to hear it
I've met turkeys
they are intelligent
unique voiced
social beings 
with 
affection and
geography skills
so...

I looked up who 
used to live where I live
#originalpeople

I live on the land of the 
Haudenosauneega Confederacy
Susquehannock
I don't know much about them
yet
aside from
longhouses

So I guess today
Thanksgiving
is even more complicated 
than I thought
(Just like everything, I guess) 

Much to honor and hold in the light
Much to be thankful for
Much to mourn
Much to celebrate