Learning Tradition, My Thanksgiving Poem

An entire family gathered around for a bird:

From near, and from far, we gathered as one,

None too busy, nor one complaint heard.

My Dad rose very early to put the bird into cook,

Mom's hands would be sore from lots of peeling:

But I'll never forget the happiness in their look,

The house seemed so full of warm feeling.

The guests would be arriving, some early, some late,

We'd worry about enough chairs and tables for kids;

And each would proclaim how 'The turkey smells great,"

and we'd all agreed that it did.

Soon the bands would be heard from, on our old T.V. set,

and we would scramble and sit all over the room,

The joy that enthralled us, I'll never forget;

as we waited for our favorite hot air balloon.

Soon dinner was ready, and we all found a seat,

it didn't matter if it was a real chair;

this one day we could all eat and eat,

and calories were never a care.

We'd hear stories, and laugh, at some pretty bad jokes,

It never mattered, because we were together;

and then the athletic, and some not so athletic folks:

would play some football, despite the cold weather.

Thanksgiving, in my family, was such a great day,

no chaos, just laughter and happiness had;

I was taught to be thankful, in so many ways;

So I thank you, my Mom and Dad.

Even though you're in heaven, I'll keep your day going,

I hope there's enough room for the kids,

you're Thanksgiving day tradition, you see, it's still growing,

I'll pass it along, as you did.