No Way we can Count
 
'Tis the season for gathering phrases
into bouquets in hopes some will prove
pretty enough to serve as mere tokens
of our gratitude to the souls who hold
steady the lanterns that light our way.
Those who allow us to carry theirs!  
Also for food, for shelter, for the sun
and the moon and the stars.  All the
many wondrous gifts the Great Spirit
and the marvel that is Earth bestow.
For friends and family, we make or troll
for cards festooned with Jack Frost-
colored leaves and hatted- or -feathered
Pilgrims and Native Americans, or
cornucopias spilling over with bright-
cheeked apples and fat and shiny grapes.
Corn, squash, gourds smooth and un-,  
striped and spotted, crook-necked, and
rotund.  Gorgeous and succulent reds,
golds, and oranges and cooly contrasting
greens much of Sam's melting pot is famous
for, come fall..  Our grocery lists run to
pages.  Our kitchens grow ever more rich
with nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, allspice.
Ovens are scrubbed and checked. Cheat-
ers like a certain someone order baked and
trimmed birds and hit supermarket bakeries.  .
Others spend days mashing, stirring,
stuffing.  We lucky types stress our fridges
with butter by the tub (or what passes) and
stock up on pickles, olives,  berries, and
 marshmallows that broiler-blackened
will sing of bonfires 'neath October moons.
Well-wishers pile in bearing casseroles, breads,
cakes,  pies, and always, always, you-know-
who's "special delight" (eek).  Kids toddle
or reel in or arrive in arms,  laughing and
yowling.  Soon we will sprawl moaning or
catch winks or The Game.  Laugh 'til our
newly-expanded sides ache..  So, so much
for many of us to be grateful for.   Spice-
adding toppings like ice cream straight out
of the carton and wiggle-room fur slippers.
Dreaminess that settles before the confettiing
sparks of a love-stoked fire.   Satisfaction of
finding a lost glove or two bits in a jacket.
Caress of dry clothes after being caught in
a gully-washer.  Home-burnt cookies and
the near-pure bliss of finally scratching down
there.  Time off from shaving face/legs/pits..  
Small guests, and small guests leaving.
Hush now, give you one more thing to say
grace about. Grippi il momento, i miei amici.
               Grippi il momento!