When guns sound
Here and there on this soil,
Souls sink like on the Titanic.
Good news for survival—
surfing in from the Soviets:
an answer to WHO’s
long-awaited question,
a cure for killer cancer.
Hats off, Russia
A hawk flew high, soaring...
a breathtaking dive and dip
(Watched I with jealous
eye). Came a great aerial flip,
leveled to precision glide --
my wing-full heart sighed:
Oh, to have wings!
Short time later, I was indoors,
at the dinner table. It was Thanksgiving~
Oh~ God, thank you for wings!
How was your year, folks out there
Feel thankful for what life bestows?
At dinner time say a prayer
For days of poetry and prose
Yam, turkey, cranberry and salad
Potatoes, cornbread, apple cake
The banquet worthy of a ballad
The smell of home, bread freshly baked
Three generations at the table
Enjoy great time and tasty meal
Thanksgiving Day of roundtable
Puts everything on even keel
Be grateful for the life you're living
Your health, your family and friends
What one receives and one is giving
This special day it all make sense
November 27, 2024
The 20-pound butterball turkey rests
On a table laden with condiments;
We bow our heads, reach out our hands and bless
And say grace which presupposes our content.
But as we eat, the elephant harrumphs
To lead our banter and wordplay astray,
We assert on Gaza or butterball Trump
Or some other donnybrook of the day.
Alas, the turkey is now quite slighted
And acrimony stuffs the upper hand;
Our argued points are skewed with gestured knife,
Though not a one convinced to alter stand.
Afterward, leftovers are jammed into
Vacuum bags should we choose to someday use.
Behold the Good that is already there,
But! Give one’s nod,
In Thanking G-d the “Sharer!”
Because ‘tis truly odd,
To receive care,
Despite being a “Dud”,
Even naked & bare,
Without a merit “Mother Lode”,
“Thanks!” is song, a soulful “Aire”,
Keeping us “Solid!”,
If “Thanks!” be rare,
We take for granted, grow “Stolid”,
Breathe callous air,
Paying debts is a lid,
Which opens fare,
Ticket to Hearts 14 karat gold,
“Thanks!” Non-coexistent with despair,
Nor arrogance, nor a selfish “Id”,
Gratitude rain blossoms “Life Fertile!”
I gave thanks for everything on my plate,
but in my paradoxical state,
I deeply regret
everything that I "et"
or is the pronunciation "ate"?
Thanksgiving Day 2024
Miracle Man
11/28/2024
I try seeing each day
as a day for thanksgiving,
I remember to think the Lord
for my sins forgiving.
Also, for His precious word
to which I try to adhere,
For things not being as bad
as they oft first appear.
Today, I remember all those
who must sleep on the street,
Praying today they’ll have
a Mission meal to eat.
For those who seem to be
with life out of touch.
While In try not to judge
their reason for such.
For all those who think
life has passed them by.
Looking back upon life
for some reason why?
Alice passed away this week,
But it would just be wrong
If a Turkey Day went by without
Us listening to her song*.
For Arlo Guthrie wrote a tale
About her restaurant
And he started a tradition
Which, each year, I always want.
We’re sitting in the car, en route
To have our special meal
And at noon on classic radio,
My husband at the wheel,
The eighteen minute tune comes on;
We laugh at every word
Of this “massacree,” a story
Which, though true, is most absurd.
And when the chorus comes around,
We belt it loud and clear,
Reminding us that it’s Thanksgiving
And we’re all still here.
Today we pulled up early,
(Me, my daughter and my spouse)
To the driveway of our son
And soon he exited his house
In the pouring rain and climbed inside,
While Arlo did his thing
And he joined right in, so chorus time,
The four of us did sing.
More family waited in his home,
But they did not take part.
Still, this was the moment of the day
That really touched my heart.
*Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” by Arlo Guthrie
Thanksgiving Day comes this one day a year
A simple reminder
To enjoy the simplest things in life
The nourishment of basic needs
Of family and friends (food and football!)
In whatever passes for community,
Be it small or large,
Limited to just one
Or extended across generations.
It’s a holy day but one that embraces all faiths
Reminding us to keep the faith
In what has provided for us
- Be it Earth or God, Self or other -
And what we have to live for,
For each of us have our own lives to be thankful for
No matter how painful or challenging they be
Thankful for our parents
And all the lives before
Leading up to today.
A day that can be any day
We live in thanks.
(11/28/24)
You can tell it's finally winter,
the glaze of icy glitter
Darker mornings, sun late dawning
Freezing cold and bitter
Woollen hats, chunky scarfs
slippery and sliding paths
children's runny noses
Red lips and looking chapped
A festive time
Happy elves and Santa's sack
He sees if you've been good or bad
I know that for a fact
Christmas crackers, candy canes
Songs are played and party games
winter is for all to enjoy
No matter what your age
A special season, I love so much and that will never change
Aboriginal tribes, ancient and free,
Bold explorers sailed ‘cross the vast sea.
Colonial dreams, a new world’s birth,
Devout pilgrims, a holy rebirth.
Emancipation’s fight, a nation’s test,
Freedom’s beacon, forever the best.
Great minds convened, a framework to frame,
Human rights secured, liberty’s aim.
Immense territory, a nation’s expanse,
Joint efforts waged, a defiant stance.
Keen Monroe Doctrine, a hemispheric shield,
Land’s westward march, a battle afield.
Mining for fortune, a golden desire,
Nation divided, a civil fire.
Ordeal endured, a nation’s renewal,
Powerful industry, of immense capital.
Quest for reform, a progressive age,
Raging World War, a historic stage.
Suffering nation, a desperate plight,
Transformation’s hope, a guiding light.
United we stand, a global might,
Voices united, a civil right.
War’s tragic toll, a nation’s strife,
Xenophobia’s stain, a troubled life.
Yearly sorrow, a nation’s wound,
Zero tolerance, a pandemic’s sound.
It’s Thanksgiving Day.
First, we all convey
gratitude, for we are blessed.
Then comes time to dine.
Every dish is fine.
To this fact, we all attest.
Christmas time is here!
Gifts, goodwill, and cheer
fuel holiday delight.
Decorations glow;
kids play in the snow.
Church choirs sing “O Holy Night.”
Turkey party’s reconvened;
not quite sure what this might mean.
Spring hunt season seems a waste
when right now a tabled graced
with a nice big juicy Tom
fans the trypto fires, nom nom!
A Red-Letter Day
Staid pilgrims grew leery, Thanksgiving Day,
When men came to feast, half-covered in hay.
"Where's Hester?" wives asked
And elders were tasked
To march to the barn and give her an A.
Santa Goes Truant
With trollop hand-picked and madam well-paid,
Dear Santa was truant from the parade.
He ho-hoed, "so what?
I'm old with a gut,
So do this perhaps just twice a decade."
america begin healing
gather post election breaking bread
a thanksgiving nation
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