The turkey on top of the crate
Cared not that delivery was late.
Though his daring escape
Caused the townsfolk to gape,
He refused to end up on a plate!
—Gayla Baggett, Hendersonville, Tennessee
The staff of The Saturday Evening Post is pleased to announce the winner of the Nov/Dec Limerick Laughs Contest: Gayla Baggett of Hendersonville, Tennessee! For her poem describing the picture to the left, Gayla wins a cash prize—and our gratitude for a job well done. If you’d like to enter the Limerick Laughs Contest for our Mar/Apr issue, you can submit your limerick via the entry form here.
Of course, Gayla’s limerick wasn’t the only one that tickled our fancy! Here are a few of our favorite runners-up, in no particular order:
Thanksgiving Day is just ahead.
It’s a time that all turkeys dread.
But this Tom found a way
To escape from the fray
By using—not losing—his head!—Claire Levitt, Lawrence Twp., NJ
He broke free, but his friends raised a clatter.
The boss came to see what was the matter.
In the midst of the city
He could not raise much pity.
He still graced someone’s Thanksgiving platter.—Bette Killion, Greencastle, IN
This old Tom won’t take the bait.
He has an inkling of his fate.
Thanksgiving is near
It brings out his fear.
He’s afraid he’ll end up on the plate!—Jean Muyskens, Au Gres, MI
When they said they would have her for dinner
The hen turkey felt like a winner.
But learning the truth,
She flew from the coop,
And did her best to look thinner.—Ms. D. L. Brown, Buffalo, WY
Tom turkey looked at the bait,
Aware of his predestined fate.
He was all set to fly;
He did not want to die
Like his fellow fowls in the crate.—James Faucette, Durham, NC
While everyone gaped at the sight,
The turkey prepared for a fight.
The scared driver drew near;
He had only one fear—
What if that birdie should bite?—Dorothy Iseral, Burnside, KY
A stubborn old turkey named Max
Had a dreadful fear of the axe.
So he broke loose and fled,
Became road kill instead
After several more years to relax.—Gerald R. Seifert, North Manchester, IN
It looked more than a little absurd;
As folks stopped to watch man-versus-bird.
The scene was so graphic,
It tied up the traffic,
While a truckload of gobbling was heard.—B. A. Lightfoot, Hanston, KS
My feathers are ruffled—oh, gee!
’Twas a scuffle, but now I am free.
I’m on top of the crate
That you said was my fate.
I dare you, “Just try to catch me.”—Susie Swaim, Fairbanks, AK
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