![Profile avatar image for Inanna](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images.prod.theprose.com/user-17304-profile-1474605948.jpeg.jpeg)
Table Talk
One little secret spewed
From the hole in my face.
Words erupted,
Slowly dribbled
Splat, plunk,
Like viscous lava
Into the puddled gravy
On my wedgewood blue China plate.
The arcade of sound
Throughout the house -
Laughter, music, tv in the next room,
The kids' video game,
Hushes.
The November wind blustering to get in
Echoes around dinner's remains
Of stuffed turkey, sweet yams
And Brussels sprouts.
The family licks their forks
Of pumpkin and apple pie
Topped with fresh cream,
Whipped by hand.
Everyone stills,
Like animations frozen on screen.
"Can you rewind that, please?"
"Yes, but it will do no good.
The volcano has activated."
The room holds its breath
A beat or two
Until I relax,
Exhale the struggle,
And collapse,
Smiling,
into the truth of myself
And we enjoy our just desserts.
Pass the Gravy
"Honey, please pass the gravy." Extending slender ligament across the table, her life-drained porcelain fingers make way for porcelain dinnerware.
"Okay, darling, here you-"
"Mom, why does Dad always use the red gravy and we have our own?" asks the mouth between two plump, pink cheeks.
"It's because he-"
"It's because I-"
"You know your daddy's special, son."
"How come Daddy doesn't like sun? Is Daddy a monster?"
Silence stirs the supper table. This moment had always hung over them, like the living room chandelier waiting to crash to the ground.
"It's time for bed, son."
MrsDarcy
Time of Our Lives
Everyone lives for that Thanksgiving meal
Where life grinds by on a crumbling wheel
Tradition is safe, tradition is sound
Distract from the secret buried underground
No one notices the odd heap of earth
In the backyard, like the dirt giving birth
"Pass the potatoes" or "Pass the peas"
Ignore your cousin's dirt-caked knees
Reach for the knife, he offers it to you
Remain calm, slowly swallow then chew
A red hue is layered under each of his nails
Aunt Judy recounts her childhood tales
Laughing, the forced hollow kind, fills the crowded room
I can't help peering out the window at the earth's wound
My cousin waves at me, "Earth to Emma.", and grins
Proudly he wears the deed on his sleeve, cowardly sins
I feel sick and stand, "He killed her! You all saw!"
All my family members turn to stare at me in awe
Aunt Judy jumps up, "You know we don't discuss this!"
My cousin grabs me, "You're one I'll never even miss."
The whole family joins in removing me from the table
Dragging me to the yard,I try to escape but am unable
That was my last Thanksgiving spent in this world
The Thanksgiving the family secret was unfurled.