Room at the Table
Always room for one more for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is the
Ultimate gathering;
No one gathered
Like my Mom.
Mom gathered us all.
The sisters who were mad at each other:
“You can get along for one day.”
The grandchildren who were “too busy”:
“You can take the time to be with us.”
The nephew who couldn’t go home,
Because his Dad
Didn’t approve of his lifestyle:
“You’re still family to us. There’s always a place for you
At our table.”
The neighbor who lived alone:
“Join us! Our turkey is too big for just us.”
The friend of a college roommate,
Whose family was far away,
In a country that didn’t “do”
Thanksgiving:
“You can’t spend Thanksgiving alone!”
The young man she picked up,
Hitchhiking,
Who needed a job and a place to stay:
“We always have room
For one more.”
I miss those days.
Those gatherings.
No one gathered
Like my Mom.
Without her,
We drifted apart.
So I gather my memories,
And what’s left of my family,
And remember.
Oh, Mom. You would love
Our Thanksgiving.
There’s always a place for you
At our table.
About the Creator
Laura DePace
Retired teacher, nature lover, aspiring writer driven by curiosity and “What if?” I want to share my view of the fascinating, complex world of nature. I also love creating strong characters and interesting worlds for them to live in.
Keep reading
More stories from Laura DePace and writers in Poets and other communities.
Political Thirty-Three
Inevitable? A woman named Good is lost. Unforgivable. * Note: I don't think that I have to explain this one to anyone noting recent news, but I have included a video link below for future generations who can still feel empathy and compassion for someone who got caught up in history. And I was just too angry to say more with this piece.
By Kendall Defoe 2 days ago in Poets
Let's Don't Do This
"I just can't do this anymore..." "Do what?" What can't you do? Put gas in your own car? I swear to God you make me take care of everything, don't you? You know I'm on my way to work right now but that never stops you from bothering me, does it?"
By Shirley Belk6 days ago in Fiction
Comments (3)
This is so warm and heartfelt! 🧡 I especially love Mom’s big-hearted spirit and her way of making everyone feel included is so heartwarming.
Such a bittersweet ending
Lovely. They say mums are the buttons that keep everything together, don't they? Heartfelt appreciation, Laura. Your mum sounds like she's an amazing person.