Silent Thanksgiving Poem by Carolyn Brunelle

She arrives unceremoniously
from a long Florida flight;
plays it low key like it's life as usual.
Back home for Thanksgiving
no fuss, no bother,
a hug for sister,
bigger one for mother;
long as they don't look too close,
don't ask, don't want to talk about it.

'Mm-m-m, the food smells heavenly.'

Thank you God I made it
from there (cancer) - - to here.
But don't want to go there, not yet
not ready, just smile, look pretty
they won't notice, or feel sorry
the old feelings won't come up again;
the fear and vulnerability, the pain.
Oh, God, if they only knew
how good they all look to me! !

'You have no idea how glad I am to be here.'