The Crystal Tray

On special occasions
Mom used the little crystal dish
It came out at Easter,
Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthdays

It was our hungry little fingers’
Hors d’oeuvres for our
Hungry little tummies
Before the main attraction

Relish tray filled
That would soon be emptied
And then refilled
Before the main meal began

Pickles and olives
Both black and green
Pickled watermelon rind
And beets that we called purple pickles

We’d pick at the pickles
As we went by the table
That was set for us all to sit down
And alternate green and black olives

​We’d be scolded to
Not spoil our dinner so
Maybe just one more from
The little crystal dish.