Turkey Blues

I met a turkey the other day

While on my daily walk.

Strange to say, his name was Tom;

And stranger, he could talk!

 

He wasn't in the greatest mood;

In fact, he looked downhearted.

"Feeling the holiday blues?" I asked.

He said, "Don't get me started.

 

"You would also be depressed

If you were a turkey

And people saw you as a meal

Or turned you into jerky."

 

He paused; "By any chance are you

A butcher or a grocer?

For if you are, you are NOT

Getting any closer."

 

I said, "No way!" to ease his mind.

"You don't have to worry."

When he tried to walk away,

I asked, "Now what's your hurry?"

 

"You know," he answered, "I'm in hiding--

At least until Thanksgiving.

To have to spend your days like this

Is not what I call living.

 

"Why are we the chosen ones

To grace your silly table?

It turns us into basket cases--

Neurotic and unstable.

 

"And don't say 'But your sacrifice:

Consider it an honor.'

I would rather live out my dreams

Instead of being a goner.

 

"Why not switch to tofu turkey?

They say it's not so bad.

You'd save a lot of lives and make

Many turkeys glad."

 

Giving him a chance to vent

Seemed to lift his mood.

I tried to be empathetic

And NOT see him as food.

 

Then he said, "You're going to think

That I'm a nasty fella,

But I think that it's super cool

When folks get salmonella.

 

"Sorry, but that happens to be

The ONE way that

We can get back at all of you;

I call it tit for tat.

 

But really, I must dash," he said,

And so I wished him well.

He waddled off to some safe place

As far as I could tell.

 

It really made me stop and think--

This unexpected meeting--

Whether I fully appreciate

The many things I'm eating.

 

My hope this year is simple: May

THIS one guy at least,

NOT be on the table when

I eat my holiday feast.

 

(11-20-15)