The Elephant at Our Table

They know,
but across from them, he doesn't know.
Next to the one that doesn't know, sits his mother,
she doesn't know either.

Next to me, he knows, but chooses not to.
Across from me, he knows because he is too.
Next to him, sits his mother, who knows of
we, but not of he.

There's an elephant at our table,
it's big, it's ugly, it's real.

It's not an elephant in the truest sense,
it's a lie I try to conceal.

One day I want to dismiss this beast,
send it on it's way.

But for now I'll have to save it a seat,
on every holiday.