To Thanksgiving
This holiday is often overlooked
One feels, because it doesn’t generate
The flow of cash, the airlines overbooked,
Hysteria at fear of being late.
A humble, homey, family-style affair,
No supernatural glamour European
Kicks Concupiscence awake to dare
Sobriety to drink and make a scene.
Giving thanks for what one has is not
In fashion in this Age of Gimmemore.
Virtue, quaintly comical, has got
Inhibited. It fears to be a bore.
Nothing satisfies, however wild, like
Giving thanks for home in manner childlike.
~ FreeThinke
May your Thanksgiving day
be merry and bright
And may your turkey dinner
be sheer delight.~ § ~
THANKS BE TO THEE
anthem for cborus and orchestra by
George Frederick Handel
A FEAST on FOOD for THOUGHT
may be the best way for adults to celebrate
HOLIDAYS and HOLY DAYS
i thank You God for most this amazing
ReplyDeleteday:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday; this is the birth
day of life and love and wings and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)
how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any-lifted from the no
of all nothing-human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?
(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
e e cummings (1894-1962)
Thank God for family.
ReplyDeleteThank God for friends.
Thank God for life,
Even in strife.
What a pity it ends
As we're following trends
Before we could hope
To start making amends!
Live and let live,
And above all forgive.
~ FreeThnke
________ On Thanksgiving _________
ReplyDeleteOf all events parading through the year
Not one can to this humble feast compare.
To feel or offer thanks today is rare ––
However well our lives remain in gear.
As ease became the norm, we soon forgot
None of Plymouth’s Pilgrims felt regret.
Knowing death and cruel privation’s threat
Spoiled not their faith, or made them curse their lot.
Given much yet now we seem to crave
Immeasurable bounty we don’t need ––
Voluptuous excess revealing Greed ––
Indifference to the noble, fine and brave.
No pilgrim, pioneer or great tycoon
Grew up as a self-indulgent goon.
~ FreeThinke
_______ Secure Finances ______
ReplyDeleteSeek relief from all anxiety.
Entirety may bring peace to the meek.
Cheek-by-jowl with Woe Satiety
Untidily chops away at every peak.
Reaching goals long sought, yet not reacting,
Enacting, instead, Penance Joy to bar
Far exceeds the effort so exacting
In acting to escape from feathered tar.
No way seems to clear for pure fulfillment
A poor thrill meant thwarted satisfaction ––
No reaction to an act of will meant
Chill sent paralyzing longed-for action.
Entirety possessed may act the thief.
Satiety oft fails to grant relief.
~ FreeThinke
________ _ Withering Scorn _________
ReplyDeleteWho could say what motivates the Mob?
Immodestly I say it isn’t I.
The preference seems to be for those who rob
Hope from those who still would like to try
Elevation over Desecration ––
Repair and not despair at what we dread.
It seems the Mob prefers Alienation ––
Not Healing –– only Enmity instead.
Grumbling is easier than building
Submitting to the impulse to surrender
Captures for the League of Fakers gilding
Offal –– yet another sad Pretender.
Responding to the instinct to stampede
Never made the Tides of Fear recede.
~ FreeThinke
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good:
ReplyDeletefor his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of gods:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks to the Lord of lords:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him who alone doeth great wonders:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that by wisdom made the heavens:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that made great lights:
for his mercy endureth for ever:
The sun to rule by day:
for his mercy endureth for ever:
The moon and stars to rule by night:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn:
for his mercy endureth for ever:
And brought out Israel from among them:
for his mercy endureth for ever:
With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him which divided the Red sea into parts:
for his mercy endureth for ever:
And made Israel to pass through the midst of it:
for his mercy endureth for ever:
But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him which led his people through the wilderness:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him which smote great kings:
for his mercy endureth for ever:
And slew famous kings:
for his mercy endureth for ever:
Sihon king of the Amorites:
for his mercy endureth for ever:
And Og the king of Bashan:
for his mercy endureth for ever:
And gave their land for an heritage:
for his mercy endureth for ever:
Even an heritage unto Israel his servant:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who remembered us in our low estate:
for his mercy endureth for ever:
And hath redeemed us from our enemies:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
25 Who giveth food to all flesh:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
~ Psalm 136 - KJV
________ On Living With Less _________
ReplyDeleteIn speechless wonderment I sit and grieve ––
Hopeless, now deprived of further gain ––
And left without much in which to believe.
I still feel good, however, ‘neath the pain.
Living with far less might take me back ––
To a leaner, harder, better time ––
Hope, Ambition, there took up the slack ––
Exciting prospects beckoned past the Grime.
Enjoyment costs so little when we’re poor
Once accepted, limitations move
Beyond the barriers of the Secure
And liberate the mind and soul to prove
Money might pay one to lick my boot,
And yet for Love it's a poor substitute.
~ FreeThinke
A FEAST on FOOD for THOUGHT is the best way for adults to celebrate major holidays and holy days.
ReplyDeleteMy dog and I drove down to Tennessee to visit my daughter for Thanksgiving. My wife's been here since last weekend and my son and dil flew in Wednesday am. So we're going to have a fine Thanksgiving get together. Hope this day finds Franco with family and friends as well. Have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday!
ReplyDeleteSounds PERFECT, Speedy. May you travel comfortably, safely, conveniently, and thoroughly enjoy a GREAT time with your family.
DeleteThanks, Franco! Will do!
DeleteHappy Thanksgiving Sir!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ed. I hope you and your loved ones had a beautiful day yesterday that will continue throughout the weekend –– at least.
DeleteA Thanksgiving tradition from George Washington to Trump
ReplyDeleteNew York Post
by Editorial Board
November 21, 2018
The first Thanksgiving in the New World was celebrated in 1621, nearly a year after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
In 1789, George Washington became the first of many US presidents to formally proclaim a day of “public thanksgiving and prayer”:
I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln likewise called for a day of Thanksgiving in November:
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.
And so it was until President Franklin Roosevelt, in 1939, temporarily moved the celebration back to the third Thursday in November to stimulate Depression-era Christmas sales.
(CONTINUED)
PART TWO
DeletePresident Trump on Tuesday issued his own Thanksgiving proclamation:
On Thanksgiving Day, we recall the courageous and inspiring journey of the Pilgrims who, nearly four centuries ago, ventured across the vast ocean to flee religious persecution and establish a home in the New World. They faced illness, harsh conditions, and uncertainty, as they trusted in God for a brighter future. The more than 100 Pilgrims who arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts, on the Mayflower, instilled in our Nation a strong faith in God that continues to be a beacon of hope to all Americans.
Thanksgiving Day is a time to pause and to reflect, with family and friends, on our heritage and the sacrifices of our forebearers who secured the blessings of liberty for an independent, free, and united country.
After surviving a frigid winter and achieving their first successful harvest in 1621, the Pilgrims set aside three days to feast and give thanks for God’s abundant mercy and blessings.
Members of the Wampanoag tribe who had taught the Pilgrims how to farm in New England and helped them adjust and thrive in that new land shared in the bounty and celebration. ...
This Thanksgiving, as we gather in places of worship and around tables surrounded by loved ones, in humble gratitude for the bountiful gifts we have received, let us keep in close memory our fellow Americans who have faced hardship and tragedy this year. In the spirit of generosity and compassion, let us joyfully reach out in word and deed, and share our time and resources throughout our communities.
Let us also find ways to give to the less fortunate whether it be in the form of sharing a hearty meal, extending a helping hand, or providing words of encouragement.
We are especially reminded on Thanksgiving of how the virtue of gratitude enables us to recognize, even in adverse situations, the love of God in every person, every creature, and throughout nature.
Let us be mindful of the reasons we are grateful for our lives, for those around us, and for our communities. We also commit to treating all with charity and mutual respect, spreading the spirit of Thanksgiving throughout our country and across the world.
Today, we particularly acknowledge the sacrifices of our service members, law enforcement personnel, and first responders who selflessly serve and protect our Nation.
This Thanksgiving, more than 200,000 brave American patriots will spend the holiday overseas, away from their loved ones. Because of the men and women in uniform who volunteer to defend our liberty, we are able to enjoy the splendor of the American life. We pray for their safety, and for the families who await their return.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 22, 2018, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all Americans to gather, in homes and places of worship, to offer a prayer of thanks to God for our many blessings. ...
have a great day and weekend Franco !
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kid. It's been really great so far. I'm shutting out bad news and unpleasant thughts in honor of the occasion.
DeleteKeep your eyes fxed on the heavens, –– as you do ––, and you can't go wrong.
_____THE PUMPKIN ____
ReplyDeleteOh, greenly and fair
___ in the lands of the sun,
The vines of the gourd
___ and the rich melon run,
And the rock and the tree
___ and the cottage enfold,
With broad leaves all greenness
___ and blossoms all gold,
Like that which o'er Nineveh's
___ prophet once grew,
While he waited to know
___ that his warning was true,
And longed for the storm-cloud,
___ and listened in vain
For the rush of the whirlwind
___ and red fire-rain.
On the banks of the Xenil
___ the dark Spanish maiden
Comes up with the fruit
___ of the tangled vine laden;
And the Creole of Cuba
___ laughs out to behold
Through orange-leaves shining
___ the broad spheres of gold;
Yet with dearer delight
___ from his home in the North,
On the fields of his harvest
___ the Yankee looks forth,
Where crook-necks are coiling
__ and yellow fruit shines,
And the sun of September
___ melts down on his vines.
Ah! on Thanksgiving day,
___ when from East and from West,
From North and from South
___ come the pilgrim and guest,
When the gray-haired New Englander
___ sees round his board
The old broken links
___ of affection restored,
When the care-wearied man
___ seeks his mother once more,
And the worn matron smiles
__ where the girl smiled before,
What moistens the lip
___ and what brightens the eye?
What calls back the past,
___ like the rich Pumpkin pie?
Oh, fruit loved of boyhood!
___ the old days recalling,
When wood-grapes were purpling
___ and brown nuts were falling!
When wild, ugly faces
___ we carved in its skin,
Glaring out through the dark
___ with a candle within!
When we laughed round the corn-heap,
___ with hearts all in tune,
Our chair a broad pumpkin,—
___ our lantern the moon,
Telling tales of the fairy
___ who travelled like steam,
In a pumpkin-shell coach,
___ with two rats for her team!
Then thanks for thy present!
___ none sweeter or better
E'er smoked from an oven
___ or circled a platter!
Fairer hands never wrought
___ at a pastry more fine,
Brighter eyes never watched
___ o'er its baking, than thine!
And the prayer, which my mouth
___ is too full to express,
Swells my heart that thy shadow
___ may never be less,
That the days of thy lot
___ may be lengthened below,
And the fame of thy worth
___ like a pumpkin-vine grow,
And thy life be as sweet,
___ and its last sunset sky
Golden-tinted and fair
___ as thy own Pumpkin pie!
~ John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892)
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteEveryone forgot to mention the ONE THING for which ALL should be most grateful:
ReplyDeleteTHANKS to the COURAGE, STRENGTH, INTELLIGENCE and SHEER AUDACITY of DONALD J. TRUMP HILLARY ROTTEN CLINTON DID NOT BECOME OUR PRESIDENT.
_______ GOODY GOODY! ________
So you met someone
__ who set you back on your heels ––
______ Goody Goody!
So you met your match
___ and now you know how it feels ––
______ Goody Goody!
So he put you in your place,
___ proving you were a disgrace
And he broke your pride pieces,
___ and smashed your haughty face.
So you lie awake
___ just singin' the blues all night ––
______ Goody Goody!
So you thought that you
___ were a barrel of dynamite ––
______ Not a chance, dear!
Hooray! and Hallelujah! you had it coming to ya
Goody Goody for TRUMP! ––
______ On who you got the jump
And I hope you're satisfied, you crooked fool!
~ Apologies to Benny Goodman and Ella Fitzgerald
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Delete
ReplyDeleteSorry. but WE DO NOT SUFFER FOOLS GLADLY at this blog, and will forever hold THIS TRUTH to be SELF-EVIDENT:
Those blighted souls who post
___ where they're unwelcome
Surely must be demons
___ who from hell come.
When these obnoxious
___ foul fiends persist
We're sure their loathesome presence
___ to resist.
To defiance we assure you
___ we'll be brutal
We advise you not to try it.
___ 'Twould be futile!
};^D>