Thanksgiving Blessings

When I got my right hand fractured, Owing to a fall, I never felt fear captured; My left wrist is right, and I could do, I thought, my duties, I will never woe; Destiny, yet, has its unique ways, Every hand has God's image rays; What man plans need not come true, Man's fall before God can triviality prove; I fell again and broke my left wrist, Like a wings-clipped bird my trust got a twist; I was like a handicapped now, I understood, Though many, to assist me, with me ever stood; My body they washed; my hunger they fed, My bed they made and made sure I slept; My heart, yet, grew restless amidst cares rare, Sleeplessness had become my daily share; Thoughts mine flew far away from me, Like bats and owls, at night, flying free; And peeped the lives of people like me, Handicapped yet trust in divine mercy; I could feel the pain of the ham-handed, Lame, deaf, dumb, and born-blind-eyed; With hands of hope and legs of trust, Led by inner light they go glee-lit; Though, like a romantic, I used to think, I must be their savior; but in truth, shrunk; My pities and sympathies turned utopian, That had no reality-rooted love and action; It's, hence, new wisdom, now, I went ahead, When I am well I'll fulfill all I'd missed, I said - The moments I failed to look at the lame, Leave alone aiding them to reach their aim; I would reach out to the blind who constantly, Stumble and fall and try to rise consciously; Poor and needy who I had turned my eyes from, The fallen that needed hands to hold them firm; And every helpless creature of this universe, Who needs love and care I’ll give true solace; Thank you, Lord, for granting me this realization, May my celebrations ever become love-oblation! 20 November 2021 Thanksgiving Blessings Poetry Contest Sponsored by: Regina McIntosh