from gloriana casey
Yes, Cranberry, our native fruit,
has such a history!
An ode to it for Thanksgiving
seems only fair to me.
Well first of all–you may wonder,
just what can be a "CRAN?"
Our language moves so quickly now,
it's hard to understand.
Those Pilgrims— when they saw this fruit,
plus tiny flowers pink.
thought flowers had a bird head form;
the Sand Hill crane, we think!
And so from CRANEberry–name changed,
for human ears are mocked
and change what they do think they hear,
No linguist will be shocked!
Those Natives of America
found berries versatile:
for food, and dye and medicine,
from Nature's bounty aisle!
For sea captains, and sailors true,
CRANS healed that scurvy plague.
And don't forget they healed the wound,
of arrows shot to leg!
Although—most now don't hunt for deer,
so—arrows may not matter.
But FRESH cranberries— they will BOUNCE
if dropped–and won't splatter!
But then, that fact could mortify
and just quite change the mood.
For half time and those sporting types
might wish to bounce their food!
But I digress, so pardon me,
in wish to celebrate,
for native food so versatile
in our Thanksgiving fete.***
