One little secret spewed

From the hole in my face.

Words erupted,

Slowly dribbled

Splat, plunk,

Like viscous lava

Into the puddled gravy

On my wedgewood blue China plate.

The arcade of sound

Throughout the house -

Laughter, music, tv in the next room,

The kids' video game,

Hushes.

The November wind blustering to get in

Echoes around dinner's remains

Of stuffed turkey, sweet yams

And Brussels sprouts.

The family licks their forks

Of pumpkin and apple pie

Topped with fresh cream,

Whipped by hand.

Everyone stills,

Like animations frozen on screen.

"Can you rewind that, please?"

"Yes, but it will do no good. 

The volcano has activated."

The room holds its breath

A beat or two

Until I relax,

Exhale the struggle,

And collapse, 

Smiling,

into the truth of myself

And we enjoy our just desserts.

"Honey, please pass the gravy." Extending slender ligament across the table, her life-drained porcelain fingers make way for porcelain dinnerware.  

"Okay, darling, here you-"

"Mom, why does Dad always use the red gravy and we have our own?" asks the mouth between two plump, pink cheeks.

"It's because he-"

"It's because I-"

"You know your daddy's special, son."

"How come Daddy doesn't like sun? Is Daddy a monster?"

Silence stirs the supper table. This moment had always hung over them, like the living room chandelier waiting to crash to the ground.

"It's time for bed, son."

MrsDarcy

Everyone lives for that Thanksgiving meal

Where life grinds by on a crumbling wheel

Tradition is safe, tradition is sound

Distract from the secret buried underground

No one notices the odd heap of earth

In the backyard, like the dirt giving birth

"Pass the potatoes" or "Pass the peas"

Ignore your cousin's dirt-caked knees

Reach for the knife, he offers it to you

Remain calm, slowly swallow then chew

A red hue is layered under each of his nails

Aunt Judy recounts her childhood tales

Laughing, the forced hollow kind, fills the crowded room

I can't help peering out the window at the earth's wound

My cousin waves at me, "Earth to Emma.", and grins

Proudly he wears the deed on his sleeve, cowardly sins

I feel sick and stand, "He killed her! You all saw!"

All my family members turn to stare at me in awe

Aunt Judy jumps up, "You know we don't discuss this!"

My cousin grabs me, "You're one I'll never even miss."

The whole family joins in removing me from the table

Dragging me to the yard,I try to escape but am unable

That was my last Thanksgiving spent in this world

The Thanksgiving the family secret was unfurled.