Thanksgiving Polaroid

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.