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! 🤎