[Frank]

Mascara cascades down the high slopes of my mother’s cheek bones.
She is in complete control as blue streaks flow down the make up breaking up the peach tone.
She wipes her sleeve and weeps discretely by the 3 feet stove.
A petite soul - whipping up a massive Thanksgiving feast for a family of behemoths, in fiend mode.
She blinks, releasing rows of morose into a greased hole.
A shallow casserole bowl - her grandmother bought with a red cents at an antique show.
..
My 8 year old nephew slices and dices celery like a mean green machine - clean blow – he debo’s the celery into tiny pieces and pours butter by the heap; slow.
..
My 7 year old niece goes and cracks eggs, beating the yolk into a yellow cream float -
My mother greets folks with kisses on each cheek; directing them to their seats,
Mopes - as the cuisine glows in the clear oven, on 360 degrees –
Soaked, marinating in her grandmothers secret recipe, the Turkey wings roast.
My brother Joe had just gotten out of jail after doing 12 years for robbery -
It looked like my mother had seen a ghost.
..
She cleans her hand and squeezes Joe; eyes laminated, leaking loads,
His delinquent clothes - clinging to his creaking bones - she let’s go – he reeks of rose.
My 16 year old sister thinks she’s grown - feeding her 1 month old baby-food at the dinner table to keep him composed.
He cries out of hunger; my mother, cries out of grief - both secreting a mote.
..
People have drove from the east coast to taste my mothers stuffing; her seasonings known.
My dog whimpers at the edge of the kitchen for a piece; he pleadingly groans.
Puppy eyes; extremely difficult to say no too once they’re seepingly gross.
She adds parsley, raisins, to the stuffing, mixing, sweepingly, choked -
Cough-like, convulsive, breathing, her eyes bleeding, she boasts –
“This stuffing is to die for” her eyes red –
Allergies? Could it be smoke?
“I put my blood, sweat, and tears into this meal" – she say’s dripping into the cuisine on the stove.
Pleasure and irritation in her eyes - she proceeded to toast, teary eyed
She gleamed as a host.
When my brother Joe came back from Jail, he had tear drops tattooed;
mother asked ‘’what’s the meaning of those?
And Joe said
“I’m forever crying inside” his eyes watering like a crease in a hose.
Her eyes lubricated,
The dishes saturated,
She reached for a clove -
And peeled another onion, shedding tears - completely at home.




Happy Thanksgiving