TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,
BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.
THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED --
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.
TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.
GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.
I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.
I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL -- PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.
MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL
[Editor's Comment: I am grateful to Lonnie Rex of Spring, Texas for sending this poem to me. Lonnie has been a friend since 1954 when I met him and his wife, Betty Sorrels Rex, at the National Pentecostal Holiness Church in Washington, DC. Ray Stewart was the pastor, and later Walter J. Nash was our pastor. I was stationed at Quantico Marine Base and played trombone and sousaphone in the Quantico Marine Band for three years. Lonnie is a world ambassador and has provided food, clothing, medical supplies, and much more to people in crisis through the David Livingstone Foundation which he founded. He and Betty are gifted pianists, and often play twin concert grand pianos in Gospel music of hymns and Gospel songs. He taught music at Southwestern College the second year of its beginning. He has directed great 100 voice choirs for General Conference and the Sunday School Convention.]
BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.
THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED --
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.
TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.
GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.
I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.
I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL -- PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.
MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL
[Editor's Comment: I am grateful to Lonnie Rex of Spring, Texas for sending this poem to me. Lonnie has been a friend since 1954 when I met him and his wife, Betty Sorrels Rex, at the National Pentecostal Holiness Church in Washington, DC. Ray Stewart was the pastor, and later Walter J. Nash was our pastor. I was stationed at Quantico Marine Base and played trombone and sousaphone in the Quantico Marine Band for three years. Lonnie is a world ambassador and has provided food, clothing, medical supplies, and much more to people in crisis through the David Livingstone Foundation which he founded. He and Betty are gifted pianists, and often play twin concert grand pianos in Gospel music of hymns and Gospel songs. He taught music at Southwestern College the second year of its beginning. He has directed great 100 voice choirs for General Conference and the Sunday School Convention.]