Giving Thanks

by Sarah Welch and Michael Dylan Welch

First published in Mariposa 37, Autumn–Winter 2017, page 28. Winner of second place in the 2016 Haiku Poets of Northern California Rengay Contest, judged by Tanya McDonald. Originally written on 6 November 2016, when Sarah was ten years old, at Sammamish Landing Park in Sammamish, Washington on a crisp autumn afternoon.

rising sun—

the frozen turkey

set out to bake Sarah

a new chip

in the best china Michael

the doorbell rings—

a speck of blood

on the potato peeler Sarah

napkins unfolded—

we keep passing

the green bean casserole Michael

on his cell phone

father checks the football score Sarah

setting sun—

a pumpkin pie

warm from the oven Michael