Dad carves the turkey -
smoke in his mouth,
booze in his blood,
cirrhosis making plans.
--
Mom dishes side eye -
lightly sauced herself,
menthol smokes the light
and plans her germinating stroke.
--
Long shadows cast from both
on benders of their own -
stumbling Rorschach tests
splashing our dining room feast.
--
The aroma of pumpkin pie,
love and death
spreads outward from the kitchen,
unhesitant,
unrepentant,
silent.
