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Click hereThe 8' oak table(it might have been ten)
Had 2 benches each side, and a chair at each end
the grain had grown dark, the finish worn thin
if you looked close you saw initials carved in
Folks gathered around it,then took their places
Wearing grins that spread the width of their faces
First Grace was given, then the food passed around
Eyes big. Mouths watering, not hardly a sound
The sweet smell of bread. The gravy was dreamy,
perfectly spiced, rich, thick and creamy
Corn so juicy it burst on your face ,
As you chomped your way through it as if in a race
Did I mention we talked, and we laughed as we ate
How the car got away but was stopped by the gate
(I know now to use the emergency break)
But I had to pee bad- it couldn’t wait!
Eyes sparkled, wine flowed, we all had our fill
of good food and good people, not to mention good will
We shook calloused hands, kissed each other good night
Hard working, hard living- it all seemed so right
The joy that old table saw soaked into its core
so deep we had no choice but to come back for more
taters and talking, meat and malarkey, sweet corn and corny jokes
and big hearted, hard working, fun lovin’ folks.
Amen
This poem was mentioned in the Archival Review thread, in a picking through Lit's archive of over 37,500 poems.
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Good poem. I'd love to see you rework this one, without using rhyme. The rhyme is fine, but I bet you'd come up with a dynamite poem if you tried free verse.
add a personality to this poem. Working with couplets is tough because the rhyme often takes on so much emphasis. The rhyme in this poem does feel forced a bit, and though you have enjambed a number of lines, most of your phrasing ends a thought at the end of a line which emphasizes the rhyme. I think if you worked some of you lines where the thought carries onto the next line, the rhyme will subtle down avoiding the forced feel. Otherwise an interesting delightful poem...
jim : )
This is a wonderful tribute to family gatherings. These lines:
taters and talking, meat and malarkey, sweet corn and corny jokes
and big hearted, hard working, fun lovin? folks.
are classic!