I have an adversary, not an aunt

The Thanksgiving table is our battleground

Where she passes judgment, not stuffing

Offended that I don’t want a slice

Of her ideology

To her, my existence is not gravy

It’s an attack

On her everything

So she launches a sneaky offensive

Small jabs marching between mashed potato hills

Hoping she can provoke me

I know I’m right

So try as I might

I can’t help but bite

And as a result

My favorite meal is bland

I am stuck there

Fed up, but not full

While everyone else is washing dishes

Chatting gratefully

That they’re out of the war zone

Enjoying their pie

It’s partly my fault

I know that converting others to her beliefs

To her conspiracies

Is the only way they can survive

But I’m a person, not practice

And deep down she still loves me

But she won’t hear me, she won’t even try

It didn’t use to be this way

But todays world

Carves every family’s turkey wrong

She used to be one of my favorite aunts

Aunt Susie, where have you gone?