If you’re all alone on Thanksgiving Day,
with no turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy,
your heart aching from loneliness and neglect,
and your shame keeping you from making
even one single phone call to some relative
who is surrounded by devoted loved ones,
just keep in mind that, for what it’s worth,
we’re together in this poem, sharing these words.
Sleepy late-afternoon football chatter
will fade away, but this conversation will last
for as long as we can read and remember.
You, my friend, are always in my thoughts.
A Thanksgiving Day Present
