New Orleans’ Table Yarn: Thanksgiving 1994
by Rose Marie Mustain, 2012,
Revised November 2019
Nineteen forty-three,
Big Baby’s Crazy Uncle Martin
“He was not crazy.”
survived Salerno
“War hero! Pass the dressing.”
Invasion with the
“Paneed pork chops would”
Allies: bombs detonated;
“have been better. Dorn-“
tanks exploded; mor-
“gniacs had stuffed artichoke”
tar and ordnance killed
“hearts to die for.”
his compadres in the bloom
“Can’t beat red gravy”
of their youth; mothers
“on angel hair. Why didn’t”
weep at home. Mar-
“you make baked mac”
tin, sole survivor. Still pa-
“aroni. Mirli”
trolls Ponchartrain
“tons: dee-licious! boil ‘em till bursting”
Beach. Badges ticket takers
in the shadows of his mind.