Thanksgiving at the Grandparents

Mother had a big family, seven brothers and sisters. Every year, all the siblings and their families would gather at Grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving. Grandma and Grandpa’s house was small, but somehow there was room for us all, and plenty of food and desserts. Grandma also had a giant electric percolator that was running non-stop, brewing strong black coffee all day. The house was filled with so much noise: talking, laughing, teasing, football, kids yelling and babies crying. It was the absolute best thing ever.

There were two rooms with kitchen tables, the kitchen and the back porch room. The back porch room had desserts sitting on the deep freezer and on the table and on little entry tables lined up against the outer walls. That was my favorite room, because I loved the desserts and because there were big windows on every wall and a back door that opened on the driveway with a large yard for us to play in.

My grandparents were not well-to-do at all. They had a rough life making ends meet with eight children, even with the massive garden they worked in tirelessly, and all the canning Grandma did. My Grandpa was in the Army and fought in WWII, and he was in the group of troops that “stormed the beaches of Normandy.” He never spoke about the war, but he was proud of his service. My grandparents were loving people, and they raised eight successful children with beautiful families.

I would love more than words can express to go back in time and spend another Thanksgiving at their house, with my huge family and my sweet grandparents.

Thanksgiving:
boisterous turkey-
eating group
gathered to
share love, food, good times, laughter;
teasing without rules

Here is an electric percolator like my Grandma’s

picture is item for sale on Etsy by Chiquitita Farm

copyright ©2025 Lisa Paul. All rights reserved.

Willow, the host of Tanka Tuesday, invites us to:
For your challenge this week, I would like you to create either a Shadorma Prose or an any type of prose, including a syllabic form. The subject or theme can be of your choosing.

This is my attempt to create a Shadorma Prose.

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 39, Shadorma Prose, 18/11/2025