"GOBBLE! GOBBLE!" (emotionally tender, funny 'n sad)

Unmetered Quatrains: Removing Miss Turkey's head to grace the family table. (for Yuki Johanson's contest, "Emotions!!!")

"GOBBLE! GOBBLE!"

Didn't you really know just how

I was always happy to see you,

How you made me wobble so fast

And peep with an excited ruffle or two.

~ • ~

How I ever so faithfully followed

Your long strides and then,

You would so fondly turn and pet me,

Bringing water and feed to my pen.

~ • ~

Those long past years

I had mostly steadily grown,

To love and trust you as if

I had become one of your own.

~ • ~

You'd kept me warm and comfy

Ever since I was just a small chick,

And I could tell you loved me, too,

Always knowing I was your favorite pick.

~ • ~

Suddenly, things seemed so different

That day you acted so oddly askew,

I sure hoped I hadn't fallen to disfavor

Or become a disappointment to you.

~ • ~

“I know!" I said,

"I'll puff-up and strutt for you awhile!”

When you see how hard I'm trying

It's sure to bring back your lost smile.

~ • ~

It seemed quite strange this caring effort

Was making me think, "What the heck!"

When you rushed in to hug me but missed,

Instead, grabbing hold of my neck.

~ • ~

"Gobble! Gobble!" as I faded,

Is all you could hear me say,

But my broken heart was crying

"How can you treat me this way?"

Richard W. Jenkins

©2015

Author's Note

Although, Thanksgiving and Christmas are traditionally when turkey is eaten, it is a popular, year-'round menu item.

Constructive critique is always welcome. : )

Reviews

[Kathy Van Kurin]

'GOBBLE GOBBLE'
Richard,
This was quite understandable to all of us reading who have at one time or another raised something knowing it would be butchered eventually. I remember as a kid that we raised a couple ducks and they didn't taste good to any of us kids as they had become pets. Great step by step experience from the turkey's viewpoint.
Blessings,
Kathy

[Richard🖌]

Her name was Peepers,
her owners, weepers.
Oh, how she tasted good,
as we knew she would!
Yum-Yum! ; P

Thanks for finding this little number, just in time for Thanksgiving, and for sharing your own delicious fable, with a feathery friend who ended on the family table.

You'd never guess, Kathy Dear, but I actually got teary-eyed while reading this back … LOL! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Yes Time is our freind cause we can relive these experiences. Hard at the time but then we look back with a heart softened...we can hope.
Kathy

[barleygirl]

Nicely rhymed & fun-loving, I'm taking this as an analogy for those types of people who devote themselves to another person & then end up devastated when they find out their devotion wasn't enuf. You never know when the seemingly perfect soulmate will chop off your head. It happens all the time! *wink! wink!* Fondly, Margie

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Dear Margie 🌿

Even tho this was meant as sort of a poignant, oddly sentimental bit of humor, I get your sadly human, metaphorical point, too.
I like your frog avatar on gold and turquoise … an interesting choice. : )

Here's hoping your days and nights have been blessing you with life's loveliest favors! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[barleygirl]

Don't know if it's visible, but those are two tree frogs screwing in the dogs' water bowl. I put it up after seeing Augustus (another writer here) had posted some blatant sexuality, as is his style of writing (((HUGS)))

[Richard🖌]

Yeah!
I see it now, Margie … thanks for bringing that rousing moment to life.😳
Can't help wondering what the dogs thought.

[kitty]

Certainly a real pick me upper in these troubled times. Your words are what is needed. Thank you so warmly. Keep safe. Keep happy in providing the humor needed.

[Richard🖌]

Dear Kitty 🌷
Thank you ever-so gratefully and warmly … happy smiles 'n hugs! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[kitty]

So good to be able to keep contact with reputable poets on site. In the present current, uplifting words are essential.

[Unspoken poet]

Oh my goodness, this is so cute and so well written.
Very creative

[Richard🖌]

Ahhh, Lady Kay-T 🦋
So, you've stumbled across this turkey's demise tale, eh?
It's totally fiction, except I did have a pet turkey named Peepers.

Thanks for reading, for your compliments, and expressed enjoyment … big HUG! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Susan 🦋]

Nooooo this is a sad ending!!!.no no..ughhhh his poor broken heart crying, little turkey eyes looking up with sadness..then the ax!....I am NEVER eating turkey again.

[Richard🖌]

LOL! So, you found this little tearjerker, eh?
Fiction, of course, this one makes me a bit sad, too, Susan.
I'm sure when Thanksgiving and Christmas come around you'll be baking, basting, carving, and savoring a good ole turkey, a always.

Big hugs! ⁓ Richard : )

[Roland Petrov]

What the turkey might not know, but can probably sense, is that the survival of that species depends on us raising it for food. This observation actually makes the personification in your poem even more disturbing. "When you rushed to hug me but missed" is undoubtedly my favorite line.

[Richard🖌]

Gosh, Roland,
Did I actually miss your review, or it it another one the site never told me about?
Ha-hahhh! Yes, that is my favorite line, too.

Thanks, buddy … big smile! ⁓ Richard

[Mary]

and that's why I can't eat turkey. well done Richard.

[Richard🖌]

Mary Dear,
Who could blame you … LOL!

Thanks, honey! ⁓ Richard : )

[Valentine]

Aww, and it isn't even close to Thanksgiving. Valentine

[Richard🖌]

Thanks, Valentine!
Did you know that (according to polls) that turkey meat is the second most popular on the dinner table and in sandwiches year around, only behind beef?
Thanks again! ⁓ Richard

[J. J. Nightingale]

Awww... I do love my Turkey friends
I've often wondered what their last thoughts were
All I know for sure is, Tomatoes don't mind being picked.

Cute..with a message ...

J.

[Richard🖌]

Thank you ever-so warmly and appreciatively for your enjoyable review Dear Jasmine!
Yes, turkeys are cute and fun to watch, and they do go quite nicely with sliced, tart, fresh tomatoes or diced tomato in a salad.

Thanks for the compliment! ⁓ Richard

[J. J. Nightingale]

You are welcome Richard..........:)

[J. J. Nightingale]

Oh, I purchase several Turkeys during the Seasons that they are on sale..I cook them, de-bone them, and then package for the freezer..I have been doing this for many years.. they freeze well..and I make many different delightful dishes from Turkey....Also Avocado is a wonderful way to accent the taste of Turkey....

[Richard🖌]

Hey, thanks for the useful hints!

[J. J. Nightingale]

YRW....:)........................