This weekend is ‘Thanksgiving’ in Canada. My son, Sam, wrote a Thanksgiving poem that I am sharing with you below.
I also want to give thanks to all of you for your constant nourishment and support and for your much valued comments, humour and multifaceted points-of-view. Communicating with you and sharing your varied worlds means a lot to me and you have added a rich and meaningful dimension to my life.
I wish you all the joy and magic of family, friends and harvest, and as we break bread with each other not to forget our brothers and sisters who have nothing and no one.
Photo by clinock. (This post is a redux from 2012).
THANKSGIVING DAY by Sam Clinock
A day…
To notice what is directly in front of our eyes.
To focus, to realize,
That we have so much,
That every friend’s loving touch,
Is humbling.
Today…
A yearly reminder,
A magnifying glass, a simple life finder,
Of the basics of living,
And the wonders of giving.
I will now write
In the slowly fading light,
What I am grateful for:
Love
A word that loses meaning.
Unconditional love of family
Who made me who I am.
Love of good ol’ friends
Who cheer me when I’m down.
And true, romantic love
That breaks and unbreaks the heart
Sometimes so very close
Sometimes far apart.
The food and drink that we have
From nourishing Mother Earth
Whose land is hard and beautiful,
Remember what it’s worth.
The people of the world
Who each give something new.
Creative, different and shining
I am thankful for them too.
Let us not accept with ease
All that comes our way.
From where does it come?
For what reason do we pay?
Let us say thanks tonight
And each and every day
For each miracle in the world
And every scene in this play.
Beautiful. Have a good thanksgiving 🙂 and thank you for your wonderful art, poetry and comments!
Thank you Ina – do you have any traditional harvest ritual in your part of the world?
Not that I know. We do have Sint Maarten on 11 November, when children go door to door singing and carrying lanterns, to get sweets. It is a very old tradition (middle ages) and it wouldn’t surprise me if trick or treats originates from that. And on the island here we have Sundrum, in December, also very ancient, when men go door to door dressed as Sundrums scaring women drinking, dancing etc. 🙂
Fascinating Ina, thanks for sharing. I have a deep interest in seasonal rituals of other cultures and have found that not all have ‘harvest’ celebrations as here in North America…
Perhaps a short post on history of Canada’s Thanksgiving.
Perhaps Carl – but don’t hold your breath 😉 – thanks for visiting…
Well done Sam
As they say in Australia…….your son is “a chip of the old block” John
Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
Thank you Robert and I’m sure that Sam will see your comment. I love that phrase, “a chip of the old block” – reminds me of my other life in England…
Like father like son! Beautiful.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Thank you so much Jacquie, it has been and continues to be a warmly wonderful weekend celebrated with family and friends – the sun still shines and the trees are stunning in their glory…
Excellent thought and words, most welcome, a wonderful reminder from your son. Thank you Sam!
Sam will see your comment Steven and we both thank you for it…
That is a beautiful Thanksgiving poem, John. As they say: the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂
…and you know about trees Marina! Sam will be happy that you like his poem. Do you have harvest festivities where you are? Thank you as always…
I’m sure there are but unfortunately I’m a city child, so I am not familiar with any -other than my own harvest festivities, that is!! 😉
Thank you everyone for the comments and good wishes! Happy Thanksgiving and I send love to you all.