A Thanksgiving Meditation
A Thanksgiving Meditation
I gaze within the soup and find
The tough reality and rind
Of squash and ginger, onion skin
And celery, sliced fine, sliced thin
To spice the diced and chronic thoughts
That boil and simmer, never lost
Within my heart and stomach, mind
That search for reasons lawyers bind
To depositions to present in court
Before the world, which could not abort
The catastrophic video played
And played and still relayed
Around the globe, around the clock
As parents, kids on every block
Rushed to the scene to lend a hand,
A swollen tissue, some gauze, a band
Of makeshift toweling, tourniquets
That choked off death for some. Still it’s
Hard to give our thanks and pray,
Though thanks are due in a heavy way,
For here we sit and love each other
Amidst the plenty, amidst the brother/
Sisterhood our hostess sings,
She fills our plates, her eyes have wings
To fly around and stroke souls sore,
To make us welcome on her shores.
No matter where we’re from we’re here
Together gripping strength not fear.
The planet will survive disgrace
For evil deeds need have no place,
When each child grows and loves its fate,
Feels realized, its talents rate
Appreciation, applause and wonder
And no one tries to steal its thunder,
Then everyone will feel secure,
Then peace will reign, I know, I’m sure.
Our language lingers a woof, a cry
Of happiness, of humble pie.
And so United, clasped and bound
To our set purpose, this space resounds
With hope that ours a better world
This day — not hence — will be unfurled.
So look into the shiny mirror
Your plate’s become, reflect, consider
The hand that skillfully drew its shape,
That turned it over, signed its nape,
That imprint traveled from God-knows-where
Yet touches our Thanksgiving fare.
So see how we are all connected
From clay we come, our breath injected
With the power to build, not be inert,
But I’ve said enough:
Let’s toast dessert!
2003
Winooski, VT
From “Sensing Worlds of Worlds”
Poem-Songs on Loving & the World
©️2004 Myrna Goldstein
Thank you for reading! 🤎
1 Comment
Recommended Comments