Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Thanks Giving

Perhaps this year it's taken on a new meaning. I think of these two words - Thanks and Giving. Although up here we celebrate it within October I find that there are some things which are very apparent within the stream of America. It's that of this occasion, if there is one thing which never leaves the spirit within America it's the occasions of celebration. I remember and understand it well. And I will admit that it's a day that is of worth a bring about more than any rallies or politics but it's simply Thanksgiving time.

I do believe that there is a tremendous area within this holiday as aside of all that goes on within the world America is that of people which do celebrate traditions within a manner that give more meaning than just the "gobble - gobble" of the turkey. It is time where family and friends come together. If you ask me there is no country which celebrated this holiday within a manner of which is thankful.

To the left there are those whom may find it a hard time as holidays often do bring about something which some do feel down with. That is natural if you ask me.

Then there are those which have a rooted home bound meaning within all of this. What couldn't be better than to have all family and calls made from the day before to the very occasion.

Yes there are several countries which celebrate this time - yet from a distance now I have never seen the likes of the celebrations of Thanksgiving. I don't wish to dig back into the times which I have celebrated Thanksgiving within my own experience but I do wish everyone a very good one. Within the times of which we live there are the occasions such as this which make Thanksgiving a value within a society which is that which does not change the values of meaning within this time but more so reinforces it. Thus it's that time which sales are up, now that is good. Sure we can look at the things which are not. But within this traditional time I will be calling some friends as well I can smell the kitchens of those that are just a baking. And what I find is that there are these occasions which just bring about the value of what is red, white and blue.

Yet more so within a manner of a culture of a country which renders the essentials of what brought about things to be thank full for. Traditional occasions are not just within the turkey within America at this time of the year. They are literally within that harmony. From afar I do wish each and everyone within what I see as the great old USA a very Happy Thanksgiving. With that all said I would love to share a poem with you that are from the United States.

The Thanksgivings    

  Harriet Maxwell Converse 
Translated from a traditional Iroquois Prayer


We who are here present thank the Great Spirit that we are here
          to praise Him.
We thank Him that He has created men and women, and ordered
          that these beings shall always be living to multiply the earth.
We thank Him for making the earth and giving these beings its products
          to live on.
We thank Him for the water that comes out of the earth and runs
          for our lands.
We thank Him for all the animals on the earth.
We thank Him for certain timbers that grow and have fluids coming
          from them for us all.
We thank Him for the branches of the trees that grow shadows
          for our shelter.
We thank Him for the beings that come from the west, the thunder
          and lightning that water the earth.
We thank Him for the light which we call our oldest brother, the sun
          that works for our good.
We thank Him for all the fruits that grow on the trees and vines.
We thank Him for his goodness in making the forests, and thank
          all its trees.
We thank Him for the darkness that gives us rest, and for the kind Being
          of the darkness that gives us light, the moon.
We thank Him for the bright spots in the skies that give us signs,
          the stars.
We give Him thanks for our supporters, who had charge of our harvests.
We give thanks that the voice of the Great Spirit can still be heard
          through the words of Ga-ne-o-di-o.
We thank the Great Spirit that we have the privilege of this pleasant
          occasion.
We give thanks for the persons who can sing the Great Spirit's music,
          and hope they will be privileged to continue in his faith.
We thank the Great Spirit for all the persons who perform the ceremonies
          on this occasion.

As well,

 

The Pumpkin
by John Greenleaf Whittier
Oh, 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 comes 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.
 

 

 

The song brings goosebumps to me as the song within it's own does seemingly represent that of a country I know.

God Bless America

 

 

19 comments:

  1. I believe this is not the time which is to be pondered yet the essence of America comes alive during celebrations as such from one side of the border to the other as the the song went, "this land is your land this land is my land". And the statue of Liberty does smile within a content at this time.

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  2. A blissful thanksgiving to you, Jack ... althou i know yours were celebrated last October, but just the same - have a happy one :)

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  3. A blissful thanksgiving to you, Jack ... althou i know yours were celebrated last October, but just the same - have a happy one :)

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  4. Gracias a la vida!



    Gracias a la vida

    Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
    Me dio dos luceros que cuando los abro
    Perfecto distingo lo negro del blanco
    Y en el alto cielo su fondo estrellado
    Y en las multitudes el hombre que yo amo

    Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
    Me ha dado el oído que en todo su ancho
    Graba noche y día grillos y canarios
    Martirios, turbinas, ladridos, chubascos
    Y la voz tan tierna de mi bien amado

    Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
    Me ha dado el sonido y el abecedario
    Con él, las palabras que pienso y declaro
    Madre, amigo, hermano
    Y luz alumbrando la ruta del alma del que estoy amando

    Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
    Me ha dado la marcha de mis pies cansados
    Con ellos anduve ciudades y charcos
    Playas y desiertos, montañas y llanos
    Y la casa tuya, tu calle y tu patio

    Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
    Me dio el corazón que agita su marco
    Cuando miro el fruto del cerebro humano
    Cuando miro el bueno tan lejos del malo
    Cuando miro el fondo de tus ojos claros

    Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
    Me ha dado la risa y me ha dado el llanto
    Así yo distingo dicha de quebranto
    Los dos materiales que forman mi canto
    Y el canto de ustedes que es el mismo canto
    Y el canto de todos que es mi propio canto

    Gracias a la vida, gracias a la vida!

    Composed by Violeta Parra

    *

    A blessed Thanksgiving for you, my friend Jack.

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  5. Ok but this was a theme dedicated to those within America...okie dokie.

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  6. Thank you for your Thanksgiving wishes. Hope you have a wonderful day yourself, in spite of the fact that your Thanksgiving was last month. =)

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  7. It's all the same yet I find that it is something of worth when within either country. Thus a happy one to you Dianne.

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  8. Yes up here it's with October yet as mentioned it's all really the same thus it's that time within thanks.

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  9. the Thanks giving poem is a beautiful tribute to thanks for the life God left us all to enjoy nice stuff Jack.

    I think in life we all have something worthy of thanks though it is not often said or even given for the love our parents showed to many of us as children growing up to become adults of our own.

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  10. I didn't realize that there was other than just the song but the intention was - that of.

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  12. Thank you, Jack. And may God bless you!

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  13. All people around the world have to sing a chant for the Creator, saying: thanks for the life!

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  14. I have not been on here for a day yet it is all within the realm of life Eliane.

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