Be Thankful, Johnny, Just Ignore the Death

A tradition of thanks,

centered on death 

Oh, the contrast,

the absurdity

Take a moment

to realize that

you can’t even 

argue with the 

indisputable facts

that your day 

of thanks

is built on death

From the 

white-washed

repetitions 

endlessly recited to

school children

proclaiming 

the kindness 

of the pilgrims;

a relationship 

of sharing 

designed 

to help us ignore 

an entire trail of tears

To the dead body 

that literally sits 

on top of your 

beautifully set 

thanksgiving table 

Forty-six million 

lose their lives 

each time 

the calendar

bleeds its way 

to the fourth

Thursday 

in November 

Because how 

could you possibly 

be thankful 

without a

carcass 

with bread 

stuffed in her ass?

Written November 21, 2018