Perhaps it’s the low budget, lack of both desire and skills to cook, or the bad meal-plan food that has made my heart grow fonder for Thanksgiving. Ever since I started college, my overeager mind no longer skips straight to Christmas mode once the holiday season hits. I have a newfound appreciation for the time that I get to come home and spend with my family and loved ones, celebrating a graciousness for what I am blessed with on an occasion made specifically for doing so -- not to mention the food that comes along with it.
Call me over-the-top, or dramatic, but my feelings about Thanksgiving food could only be accurately expressed with the following ode.
You are an elaborate display,
Beautiful as a glimmering sky full of stars
Desirable as a gown draped in jewels and diamonds.
Stealing wandering gazes and wide eyes,
You embellish the table with your pure splendor.
You’ve captured my attention
All I see is you.
I breathe you in
Your scent fills my heart with joy,
And I smile.
Cheers echo around the room
As a knife carves away at the golden brown turkey,
Revealing a marvelously tender piece of perfected cuisine.
Clouds of potatoes
Covered in cascading rivers of warm gravy
Sit next to fresh, fluffy biscuits
Brushed in a thin layer of warm, melted butter.
Grandma’s green bean casserole and stuffing
Take up the empty spots on my plate.
Each bite is a mouthful of utter satisfaction,
Pleasing my taste buds
And quieting my growling stomach.
My lips pucker from the tartness of the fresh cranberries
Followed by its subtle notes of sweetness.
Soft yams lie under a blanket of roasted marshmallows
Layered with the crunch of candied pecans.
Pumpkin pie makes its appearance as the grand finale
The thick crust crumbles in my mouth
And the fresh whipped cream melts onto my tongue.
Hints of nutmeg and cinnamon linger
As I sip on a warm, rich latte.
Oh, Thanksgiving food, how you make me full with content.
Once a year you come and go ,
Leaving me with memories and cravings for more.
Yet time and time again,
You return to me with the same grandeur as years before.
The essence of all things exquisite,
You bring joy and thanks to the table.
Regardless of this exposure to my unusual admiration for food, I feel no shame in my emotional reactions resulting from mashed potatoes. And neither should you. So, I hope you were able unbutton those pants and indulge in a happy Thanksgiving.
