THE WISHING BONE
I have just boiled the turkey frame to make stock,
And a sight took me back many years with a shock,
Straining the meat and picking out the bones I saw
The wishing bone, we’d call it back in days of yore.
My dad always carved around it to get it Christmas day,
Be it off chicken, goose or turkey, it’s magic he’d say
And we would wait for the draw to see who’d won,
Then two tug away after the great feast was all done.
Each name went into a Santa hat and we’d all wait,
You’d wish and not tell a soul or meet an awful fate,
One year when I was twelve a wonderful surprise,
Two fowls on the table a double chance for the prize.
My name came out with uncle Ralph, big as could be,
I did not think I could win the pull, a wish just for me,
The meal was cleared and all around waited patiently
As Uncle Ralph and I set up, both full of happy glee.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes and heaved,
He pulled me off my chair then a cheer I received,
I had the big half and do you know my wish came true
I still don’t know if it’s safe to speak up and tell all of you.
(Millicent) Ann Margetson 4 January 2006