Thanksgiving is upon us, but who do you thank?
Our situations are so desperate that we can hardly think.
We have so little, it seems inconceivable that there
Is anything left or available to share.
What is it and why should we be thankful,
What, because we have our health, is that fair?
Why should we give thanks when so many lives are in despair?
Thanksgiving is a time for families,
And although they may be riddled with dysfunction and strangling from divorce,
People want to come together and share a meal or discourse.
This is the time of year when we visit each other
And revisit how life should be.
We want to give what we didn’t get
And we want to be with family in a communal set.
It’s that sense of belonging and love for the tribe
That establishes consensus and keeps us moving to the same vibe.
So what should we be thankful for each and every day
And what should we be thankful as the holiday comes our way?
The spiritual value of gratitude and the right attitude
Falls on deaf ears, while we espouse false platitudes.
There’s a recession and many are suffering miserably.
Homes lost to foreclosure,
And ailments prevail
We can’t get our current exposure
Free from worry and fail.
Any road will take us to where we want to go
And fortunately,Thanksgiving is here for those who know.
The turkey and stuffing
And overeating until suffering
The games and camaraderie
Congealed with dessert and the calories.
Unfortunately all too many will be stuffed and stuck.
And hard-pressed to find
Comfort in duck.
So here it is the classic situation as the holidays approach
All the feel-good movies about Thanksgiving, although we’re broke.
Men who refuse to be fathers, some even become wives instead
Sisters suffer depression and wish they were dead.
It’s all part of the holiday season
And we continue on without rhyme or reason.
And in our celebration get all high in the sky
The people we want to say thank you to have their a–es on high
They are the ones who come with a microphone or a ball or two
They are seen on TV and on the big screen looking back at me and you.
What happened to our culture and history and how did it fade away?
But don’t cry and don’t despair.
Don’t sit around blank, wonder and stare
Be thankful that we are on our way to better diets
And maybe some quiet
And respite from the world
And the country’s disquiet.
So move to economies that are able to grow
And say what you will of the things you used to know
New skill sets, not those of the past
Will prosper and bring you to a new and better day.
It’s time to move ahead and forge a new path
Learn languages and get proficient in math.
It’s not going to be easy, but we’ll grow in strength
And we’ll remember to be grateful for our daily bread
We have endured worse times, so keep that in your head
Don’t postulate and hate, or dwell on the negative
Form positive relationships and remember forgive
Take action and work to develop your character
And a new representation of you
Go in the direction that adds value to you and remember to say thank you.
If you have eyes to see, and hands to hold
Write a letter and say your thank-yous to someone old.
And make thank you a part of how you show
The universe that you appreciate and know
That because you are doing the best you can
God is lifting you in an invsible hand.
So thank you, thank you, thank you
To all who have helped me today and gotten me to where I am today.
Thank you to those who have gone before me and paved the way.
And, of course, thank you to the God that lives within.
Peace. –Munson Steed
