An extraordinary Thanksgiving weekend

by Pat Laster

         A traditional gathering of family--three generations--boasted several once-in-a-lifetime happenings: a sibling turned 70; another sibling and his wife celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary; a third sibling from Virginia flew in for the occasions; a newly-married, second-generation couple were added to our midst, and a family flew in from Portland, which included the third generation, aged (nearly) two.
          The daughter-in-law of the nearly 70-year-old colluded with the hostess--another sibling--to plan and carry out a surprise birthday party. It worked beautifully.
          Plus, the Thanksgiving table was side-to-side, end-to-end dishes of food--for the meat-eaters AND the vegetarians.
          That night, before retiring, I read two issues of a haiku publication and whenever a thought or image or idea came, I wrote my own. Some of them follow.

HAIKU
morning sun
outline of a maple leaf
on my windshield
~~~~

SENRYU
the Enterprise clerk
rubs something across
the twenty-dollar bills
~~~~

the only one
of our group who likes
flavored coffee
~~~~

TANKA
we sing the blessing
and record it for the one
who is missing
   later, he reports
   that it brought him to tears
~~~~

slow-cooker compote
forgotten during dinner--
an autumn shower
~~~~

Thanksgiving evening
while the dishwasher runs
she solves Sudoku
~~~~

one side of the room
I read and write haiku
sister tries to sleep
~~~~

even asleep
a tune running
through my head
~~~~

c 2012 by Pat Laster, Benton AR USA