Two Turkeys Talking

Travis and Tilly Turkey thought it quite unfair

  As they went pecking seeds from a cold flower bed

 'It's that time of year again,' both the turkeys said.

'Why choose me?' said Tilly. 'Or me?' Travis turkey clucked

 'There are so many turkeys here but none of them are friends

 Anyway, we're far too young, this cannot be the end.'

They knew they had been chosen but couldn't tell you why

As they fanned their feathers at some irritating flies

 Maybe, they thought, it was because they were the largest size.

Tilly thought of asking the head turkey of their gang

 Famous in the farmyard, Wise Gobbler was his name

'I know he's grown old and deaf, which really is a shame.

Still I think its worth it, he might tell us what to do.

 He has told us many tales how he kept clear of the knife

 So far as I recall, at least nine times throughout his life.'

But the thin old bony turkey was looking frail and sleepy

And even worse than that,  he said his memory had faded.

'Sorry I can't help,' he clucked, 'but I'm feeling rather jaded.'

Tilly felt uncertain as she and Travis waited

Watching all the hens and toms gather round the farmer.

Travis looked at Tilly, 'I'll be so sad if they harm her.'

'It is a firm tradition, and has been every year,'

The farmer scattered food as they overheard his wife

'A Christmas turkey,' she insisted 'is a part of life.'

The two worried turkeys scratched their toes along the ground

Tilly 's neck skin wobbled and with a weary sigh

'That sounds so bad,' she said and clucked a piercing cry

Bright lights shone and glowed around the Christmas tree,

With gifts wrapped up in boxes strewn all across  the ground

The two friends looked up sadly, as no stars had gathered round.

Travis yelped ' there must be a way to save us from the chop,

 We have to find a juicy dish, so good that it entices

 Something so delicious instead of turkey slices.'

'A good piece of meat might do it,' Tilly thought out loud

But Travis disagreed 'I'm not sure that would happen

It would  just be another boring dish sitting in the oven.'

Tilly had a good idea about about a bowl inside the kitchen.

'Have you ever tasted a sweet charred cauliflower

 Cooked  and soaked in honey and roasted for half an hour?'

'Children will need more than that,' said Travis turkey, sadly

 Turning his head from side to side. 'We have to find a  tactic

 Or hope that someone brings a dash of good old Christmas magic.’

 This amazing tale would be told to future flocks of turkeys:

'Children from the farm came by and they stood beside us

Shouting 'save our  turkeys' and clapping to the chorus.'

Snow fell on the farmyard but the night would not be silent

The children stayed together and sang til dawn arrived

Chanting carols through the night so two turkeys would survive.

The farmer and his wife were very deeply moved

By the children singing, so that morning they relented

Turkeys being roasted, had this time been prevented.

Snow lay crisp, the day was quiet, the grey sky turned bright blue

The Christmas meal had sausages, crispy spuds and sweetcorn

While the two turkeys clucked all day as if they had been reborn

And as the years pass by the story is forever told

To every generation at the farmer's  Christmas table

And the tale of two turkeys talking has turned into a fable.