Our Thanksgiving Meals

Our Thanksgiving Meals
© Surazeus
2024 11 28

The yellow banana taped to the wall 
lures me straight into its conceptual trap 
when I think about all the governments 
our intelligence agents overthrew 
so banana republics would obey 
kings of fruit companies raking in cash. 

People who control land producing fruit 
feast in halls of power with mirror walls 
that reflect beauty of their privilege 
while immigrants from southern jungle hills, 
controlled by gangsters selling cash cocaine, 
pick crops we eat at our Thanksgiving meals. 

These propaganda images reveal 
unequal status that always prevails 
between those whose ancestors stole the land 
and those whose hands produce food we eat, 
so we gather to watch the football game 
where Cowboys always beat the Indians. 

After we stop beating each other up 
with guilt trips for crimes our ancestors did, 
we can watch the new superhero film 
where Captain America saves the world 
from monstrous aliens who suck our souls, 
then pray for Jesus to return to Earth. 

When ship I sail across Atlantic waves 
splinters on reefs off lush welcoming shores, 
I swim through curling surge of futile hope 
to stand gasping for breath on moon-gold sand, 
then search for Liberty on pyramid 
holding Light of Freedom and Book of Names. 

Bright beacon of Liberty shines in gloom 
that guides my rough way across the waste land 
to build in land of opportunity 
new way of life where I keep what I earn 
after escaping tyranny of kings 
who fight each other for the Crown of Christ. 

Throw all these bromides in the swirling sea 
to banish Hope that blinds my eager eyes 
so I can steal land in the wilderness 
to replace land the king stole from my clan 
and build new Eden in the Promised Land 
till the tyrant comes and steals that land too. 

I have wandered lands of Zarathia 
four hundred years from sea to shining sea, 
but still I am the homeless refugee 
forever searching for the Holy Grail 
that glows in hands of the woman I love 
who prepares feast for us to share in thanks.