why don't we have them stuffed?
stuck in the floor staring out the door,
as they hold our hats and coats.
would i like to be stuffed?
with turkey and yams and cranberry jam,
bluster and billow then be my love's pillow.
why not be stuffed and sewn?
relatives will visit to argue their rankings,
from mantel to door, to bellyaching.
why don't we have them stuffed?
jeweled gowns, striped suits, and bold ties,
never blinking those marbleized eyes.
uncles and aunties, grandpas and grannies, all in an orderly row.