Thanksgiving and Giving

(original artwork & poem © Pinke Spencer 2004, used with permission.)

The Great Pumpkin having come and gone,
Golden leaves now cover the lawn.
We've already seen a frost or two
And Summer fare's been replaced by stew.

The shops are displaying only Christmas things.
Thanksgiving break now homeward brings
Pilgrims returning from schools far away,
Grandchildren and parents arriving to stay.

As we bow our heads and carve our meat,
We need to remember those out on the street,
With no festive table or cozy chair,
No feelings of thanks - only despair.

For thanks we can give to others instead
The gifts of the season: good food, warm bed.
Let your light so shine before men
That Thanksgiving returns again and again.

And as we sit down to the Thanksgiving table
Let us all pray that we may be able
To help spread throughout the land
The love that is spread by a true helping hand.