An American Eagle Thanksgiving Prayer

the Hopjes bring me back to Linden Boulevard
as sure as scent quickens a stray dog to its pack on the Han
Monitor and Merrimack steam of ancient radiators
filling the old living room warmpth like a hot air balloon
hear Dad's self-assembled Lawrence Electronics amplifier
spinning Peter, Paul & Mary on the Garrad turntable
Auntie Ray fussing near Uncle Joe grinning on the sofa
Thanksgiving in Brooklyn with Hanukkah latkas

my American Eagle family of colleagues
pre-revolutionary brother Pilgrim Darren
fellow bicyclist Agya and Rising Sun David
gluey Nicole and Zoe's reassuring smile
thank the Lord for the children a while
Antonio, mange, falissimo!
as Kenny clicks photos i'll never take home
but it doesn't matter; the films in my head
as sure as Pershing Arms' red hot marble buttocks
on a crisp November night in the Brooklyn tenement
with Bubby's borscht and Pop's frikisee
or the bushiban's noodle communal dinners

thank you for coming and warming our seats
around this Thanksgiving table of sours and sweets
thank you Teddy and Celia for making us able
for joining us at this American Eagle table
to see the bright faces of all the dear children
like you, Johnathan,
we do it for you and your little friends
on a crisp Taichung Hanukkah turkey
may it never end although it sounds jerky
amen to the light in the candles of life
and thank you for Leona, my dear loving wife

11-29-13