How can I be honest and yet inform
without distortions of story well-worn?
Accepted myth or the real story be told?
Thanksgiving is new, but celebrated since old.
As long as a bountiful harvest came
to people so blessed and it had a name.
Not just God’s blessings to one group, as it was spoken
but gifts to starving Puritans, as a safety token.
Squanto came to the sick and poor
taught them to live in new wilderness and more;
new housing, new knowledge of plants and trees,
how to fertilize with fish and to survive winter’s freeze.
For three long years the struggle was much harder
until, again, the Puritans could fill their larder.
Then, again, was reason to celebrate.
Much later, yet, Lincoln set the myth for State.
But always the reason was thanks for the harvest
in receiving and giving, more health to invest.
Ceremonies for gathering of tribes and strangers,
believing that Creator would remove the dangers.
When the roles reversed and Wampanog grew weak
to the recipients of their gifts would they speak.
Food for a treaty to set apart land for the religious group
and thanksgiving was given and time to recoup.
No matter the story, the thought still remains,
that we share and give honor for food and our gains.
To share with the poor what they might not have now,
to give of our excess we have worked sweat on brow.
We do not share the story that is accepted by most
but tell Creator of the generous gift of a host.
Then when time comes, as often it will, and we’re afraid
to lower ourselves to lose pride by asking for aid;
a return of a favor is given from heart
because a gift for a gift is a gift from the heart.
Let us celebrate giving and receiving, for purposes known
from some seeds grow excess and from some seeds grow none.
There are always the hungry, the sick and the poor,
Creator will give if we give away more.
Look around us and see if a neighbor’s in need.
This is the real joy and a blessing indeed.
Ensure that we all have enough to share;
Thanksgiving is a time, to show gratitude by care.
Author notes
Resource:
www.halcyon.com/pub/FWDP/Americas/tchthnks.txt
Ancient, it is, to celebrate bounty in any land by any people.
Written November 2nd, 2006
In a list
A contest entry
- First Thanksgiving (Graphic Inspired) by lilangelsnemesis.
500 points, ended December 5, 2006, 4 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
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Congratulations on Gold! I am SO glad you won. This was a wonderful and truthfilled write. Very deserving of the win. Well done.
Jeannie
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Greatly Inspiring
I think it is great that you took the time to do some research on this and wrote a wonderful poem around that research. I agree with Arkbear with the amount of time you spent on writing this. I could feel the story as I was reading it and the imagery was wonderful. You gave wonderful insight and ended the story with great hope.
Thank-You for entering the contest!
lilangel'snemesis -
Wonderful ~
I think it is about time to get this judged ~
My wonderful collaborating host and I have been soooo busy, and I spent some time in the hospital, so I hope you will forgive our ....slack ~
Thank you so much for your entry ~
Best of luck to you ~
Bear ~ -
Ty, Mark. Over the years, living way up in fly-in communities by the NWT, alone, and no one to share celebrations like thanksgiving with, I know the gift of giving. I would buy and make turkey dinner and share it with families and elders. I would make special birthday dinners for myself and do a "give away". My what I received from thess small deeds.
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This poem is so comprehensive in its length and breadth of subject matter. Not to mention the same of your Heart. ~Mark
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Thank you Jeannie. How to tell a wll told a new way, or the real way, or the old way was a dilemma, indeed. I appreciate your stopping by to read and comment.
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Well said shewolfnative. This is just amazing. You have done an incredible job writing a wonderful history lesson. Great job, I wish you luck in the contest, but I think you have it nailed!!!
Jeannie -
silly gf, you get back here. No two poets write exactlyt he same nor fromt he same ideology...hurryup now, or I shall withhold yer turkey. LOL.
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thank you, Arkbear. I am Native American and an educator. I so wish the stories were straight sometimes.
-
A great story ~
Food for a treaty to set apart land for the religious group
and thanksgiving was given and time to recoup.
That was awesome ~
But this was even better ...>>>
Let us celebrate giving and receiving, for purposes known
from some seeds grow excess and from some seeds grow none.
There are always the hungry, the sick and the poor,
Creator will give if we give away more.
Look around us and see if a neighbor’s in need.
This is the real joy and a blessing indeed.
Ensure that we all have enough to share;
Thanksgiving is a time, to show gratitude by care.
Wow ~
The time you spent to write this is crazy ~
You told of many things that could have been said at that table of harvest and thanksgiving ~
I really enjoyed this write a lot ~
Best of luck to ya,
the Bear ~
John ~
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