Thanksgiving Reflections

Thanksgiving Reflections

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Reflections on the 400th Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving thoughts and updates

Thanksgiving thoughts and updates

 Happy Thanksgiving Audio Clip

Index

Thanksgiving Reflections on the 403st Anniversary of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day

Ode To Thanksgiving Meals Past And Present

Happy Thanksgiving

Thankful For My Angel On Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day Feelings

Thanksgiving Jiyu Shi Poem

What Am I Grateful For?  Thanksgiving Day Poem

Thanksgiving Day

Best/Worst Thanksgiving Ever Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Senryu

T Is For Turkey

Turkey’s Revolt – A Thanksgiving Dinner Nightmare

Another Thanksgiving Nightmare From Turkey’s Point Of View

Death To All Humans Turkey Screams

Punny Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving momento

Thanksgiving haiku/senryu

The Revolt Of The Turkeys

Thanksgiving Memories

Thanksgiving Reflections

Space Aliens Invade Thanksgiving

Trump’s Unhappy Thanksgiving Message

Thanksgiving Reflections on the 403st Anniversary of Thanksgiving

Today in honor of the 403st celebration of Thanksgiving, I thought it be good to pull together my Thanksgiving poems written over the years. I have no doubt others are buried in my computer’s hard drive and if I ever get my act together to find them I will update this in due course.

Thanksgiving and Christmas were my favorite holidays as a child.  I grew up eating Southern-style cooking as my Mom was from Arkansas and my Dad from Yakima, Washington and she did most of the cooking and was a creative cook.

She did Thanksgiving/Christmas full southern style – featuring a full roast turkey (fried turkey was not common when she grew up although now in the south fried turkey is as common as roasted turkey).

Here’s the recipe

Roasted turkey

Stuffing in the bird bread, onion, ham bits, bacon bits, herbal mix)

Gravy

Sweet potato pie with marshmallows

Cranberry sauce

Mashed potatoes

Corn Bread

Salad

Green beans

Southern-style greens –

turnip, collard, kale, spinach

with bacon, ham, onions, and molasses

Rice

Wild rice

Roasted potato au gratin

Pumpkin pie with whipped cream

Vanilla ice cream to finish the meal

And leftover turkey sandwiches

For a week

Many families mine included did the same menu on both Thanksgiving and Christmas although some families did something a bit different for Christmas, substituting ham, duck, goose, Cornish game hens, or a pot roast for the turkey for example.

And there were ethnic variations of course.  And Jewish people usually went out for a Chinese meal on Christmas as did the Chinese as well.

If you do an AI search on Thanksgiving you will find many articles on the history of the holiday including insightful analysis of how the holiday came about.  Well, work reading.

Thanksgiving in the U.S.

Thanksgiving in the United States is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. The tradition dates back to 1621, when the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Native Americans shared an autumn harvest feast. This event is often considered the “First Thanksgiving.”2 Over time, various states and colonies celebrated their own days of thanksgiving, but it wasn’t until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November. The holiday has since become a time for families to gather, share a meal, and give thanks1.

Thanksgiving in Canada.

In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. The origins of Canadian Thanksgiving are different from those in the U.S4. The first recorded Thanksgiving in Canada was celebrated by English explorer Martin Frobisher in 1578, to give thanks for surviving the long journey from England to Canada. The modern Canadian Thanksgiving, as a national holiday, was established in 1957 and is more focused on giving thanks for the bountiful harvest and celebrating the arrival of autumn.

Key Differences:

1. Date:  Thanksgiving is in November, while Canadian Thanksgiving is in October.
2. Origins:S. Thanksgiving is rooted in the 1621 harvest feast with the Wampanoag, while Canadian Thanksgiving originated from a 1578 celebration by Martin Frobisher.
3. Significance:S. Thanksgiving is often associated with the Pilgrims and Native Americans, while Canadian Thanksgiving is more about celebrating the end of the harvest season.
4. Celebration:S. Thanksgiving is a major holiday with parades, football games, and large family gatherings, whereas Canadian Thanksgiving is generally more low-key.

en.wikipedia.org2

www.history.com3

www.diffen.com4

http://www.almanac.com

A Thanksgiving Poem

My favorite holiday

As a child

Was always Thanksgiving

My mother

Being from the South

Knew how to do Thanksgiving right

She made the best turkey

This side of paradise

Just perfect

A big oven-roasted bird

Complete with stuffing

Made with breadcrumbs

Oysters, carrots, onions, garlic

Mushrooms And secret spices

Cooked in the bird of course

Cranberry sauce

Gravy

wild rice

white rice

Mashed potatoes

Sweet potatoes with marshmallows

Salad

Stuffing of course

Yams

And pumpkin pie

With ice cream

For dessert

Last Thanksgiving

When Sam was a college student

He went home for Thanksgiving

Not knowing that would be his last

Thanksgiving with his estranged family.

After graduating college

He joined the Peace Corps

Then became an ex-pat

Diplomat and traveler

All over the world.

Never got back to California

As he was always stuck

Somewhere else,

And was not that thrilled

To see his siblings either.

Although he was from Berkeley,

His mother was from Arkansas

And cooked Southern style.

Thanksgiving

has never been the same since

Sam left home

and missed his Mom’s

Southern holiday feasts.

And she did Thanksgiving/Christmas

Dinners right

A full-roasted turkey

Cooked with stuffing inside.

The stuffing, including bacon, breadcrumbs

ham, herbs, onion, garlic, mushrooms, apples

And carrots.

fresh gravy made with bacon bits.

Bake beans

Green beans

grits

Collard greens Southern style

with molasses, ham, bacon bits,

onions and bourbon to flavor.

Home-made cranberry sauce

Mashed potatoes

Salad

Wild rice, white rice

Yams

Pecan pie with ice cream

For dessert.

Thanksgiving Senryu Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving Day

Americans gather together

With a big family feast-

Celebrating another year gone by.

Thanksgiving Day

On Thanksgiving day

We are grateful

For the little things

In life

For the memories

for the food

that we will enjoy

on this day of giving thanks

National Gratitude Month – encourages us to embrace the power of gratitude

In an 8-line poem, write about just one non-human thing you are truly grateful for

Ode to Thanksgiving Meals Past and Present

Growing up

My favorite holidays

Were Thanksgiving

And Christmas

We did a traditional Thanksgiving

And Christmas dinner as well

Southern American style

My Mom was from Arkansas

My Dad was from Yakima

And we lived in Berkeley, California

Featuring of course the full bird

Roasted turkey

Stuffing in the bird

Gravy

Sweet potato pie with marshmallows

Cranberry sauce

Mashed potatoes

Corn Bread

Salad

Green beans

Southern-style greens –

turnip, collard, kale, spinach

with bacon, ham, onions, and molasses

Rice

Wild rice

Roasted potato au gratin

Pumpkin pie with whipped cream

Vanilla ice cream to finish the meal

And leftover turkey sandwiches

For a week

Nowadays

Whenever I am

In the world

I try to have a tradition

Thanksgiving dinner

but it is hard

doing so overseas

were turkey

is just not that common

a food item

over the years

I have had steak

Ham, Mexican food

Indian food

Even sushi on Thanksgiving

In Okinawa

And once

I had Tofu Turkey

Even though

I am from California

That was a step too far

Just not for me.

But in the end

Nothing is more satisfactory

Then eating turkey

On Thanksgiving night

I have added drinking

A bit of bourbon

On Thanksgiving day

To my routine

On this Thanksgiving day

In Korea

We did a roasted turkey breast

Cranberry sauce

Mashed potatoes

Asparagus

Cheesecake

Bourbon

And wine

The turkey, cranberry sauces, bourbon, and wine

came from the Army Commissary

The other ingredients from COSTCO

It was just divine

As always

And in the end

It all comes together

As I eat my Thanksgiving dinner

No matter where I am

As long as I am eating

Thanksgiving dinner

With my wife

It does not matter too much

What we are eating

Thankfully

She is there

To share my life

On this special day.

Thanksgiving Day

On Thanksgiving day

We are grateful

For the little things

In life

For the memories

for the food

that we will enjoy

on this day of giving thanks

Thankful to my Angel On Thanksgiving Day

On Thanksgiving Day

I woke up

and saw my wife

Sleeping peacefully

I look at her

In the dawning light

Filling my soul

With her love

I drink my coffee

Contemplating my life

Ever thankful

Especially on Thanksgiving day

For the angel

That came to me

Out of my dreams

Walking into my life

Taking charge of me

42 years ago

I met my fate

On that date.

Thanksgiving Senryu

This Thanksgiving

Celebration of life

COVID is Ending

T is for Turkey

Turkey

The country and bird

Thanksgiving feasts

Turkey’s Revolt – A Thanksgiving Dinner Nightmare

On Thanksgiving Day

The feast started late

The turkey was having a problem

He refused to go quietly

Into the oven

The turkey stood up

Screaming

What is wrong with you people?

You are going to burn me alive?

What have I done to you?

Why can’t you just pardon me?

Like the President did

I mean, I am cuter than Peter Butter

And Jelly anyway

The turkey grabbed a knife

And killed the guests

Running out into the dark

Joining all the other

Suddenly I woke turkeys

All screaming

“I am mad as hell

and not going to take it anymore

Death to all humans.”

That was  the day

that went down

Thanksgiving

Turkey revolt.

Another Thanksgiving Nightmare from Turkey’s Point of View

What am I grateful for?  Thanksgiving Day Poem

On Thanksgiving Day

I am thankful

For the fact

That I have survived

My 66th birthday

My father and grandfather

Both died at the age of 65

And I felt a curse

Had been lifted

As I lived beyond

That date

No cancer

No Alzheimers yet

And no COVID

Cheated death

In my life

22 times

And most important

I am still madly in love

With the love of my life

Whom I met

In a dream

8 years later

She walked into my life

Becoming my wife

And this fairy tale romance

Has continued to this date

And for that I am thankful.

Thanksgiving Day Feelings

On Thanksgiving Day

We have a lot

To be thankful for

A lot to be grateful for

Most importantly

We have survived

Old Corona has not

Taken us away

We are alive

Love and life

Continues

As we gather around

The dinner table

Thinking of the past

Enjoying the moment

With thanks in our hearts

We speak

Thanksgiving JiYu Shi Poem

Thanksgiving day

A time for reflection

A time to feast

With friends and family

Nowadays in person and zoom

Hard to eat a turkey

On zoom

Thanksgiving Puny Situation Writing com

Many years ago
I had a traditional Thanksgiving
With friends in Korea
My fellow teacher said
He knew how to cook a turkey
My wife who was in the army
Got the turkey and we invited friends
Turns out he lied, he had no clue
We cooked the bird with the giblets
Inside the stuffing
Took it out and told our Korean guests
That was “American Stamina” food
Turned out and found that the giblets
Were all gone
That was a puny situation
And a memorable Thanksgiving dinner

What kind of pitch shall we make today? Are you having a ball going to bat with your New Year’s writing resolution? Or haven’t you left first base, yet? What’s the score? On to the contest. I’m gaming if you’re game.

Write a story or poem featuring a puny situation.

Make one of the genres of Comedy.

Thanksgiving Momento Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving mood.

Feeling the blues.

Families gathering.

Eating too much food.

Watching the news.

Relatives blathering.

Thanksgiving Senryu

on Thanksgiving Day

We sit down with family.

happy to be alive.

The Revolt Of The Turkeys

36 lines

On Thanksgiving Day

All over the world,

The turkeys of America

Woke up and turned

On their human hosts.

Proclaiming on the internet

It was time for the animals

To rise and kill all humans.

It all started with Tom

The woke turkey

Refused to go quietly

Into the oven.

The turkey stood up, screaming

“What is wrong with you people?

You are going to burn me alive?

What have I done to you?

Why can’t you just pardon me?

Like the President did

I mean, I am cuter than Peter Butter

And Jelly anyway.”

The turkey grabbed a knife

And killed the guests

Running out into the dark

Joining all the other

Suddenly I woke turkeys

Dogs, cats, horses

The whole animal kingdom.

All screaming

“I am mad as hell

And not going to take it anymore

Death to all humans.”

That was  the day

That went down

Thanksgiving

Turkey revolt.

Celebrated across the internet

As animals chimed in

“Death to all humans”

Became the rallying cry

Of the animal revolution

Led by Tom Turkey.

Thanksgiving Memories

My favorite holiday as a child

Was Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving day

My Mother put on a feast

She grew up in Arkansas

And we lived in Berkeley, California

The menu consisted of

Full turkey roast with classic homemade stuffing, green beans,

cranberry sauce,  mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with marshmallows

salad, apple pie with ice cream,  mincemeat pie, gravy and rolls.

Watching an American football game on TV.

With my parents and siblings.

I still remember my childhood

Thanksgiving dinners.

14 lines

Thanksgiving Reflections

Happy Thanksgiving

To one and all

On this Thanksgiving

My 69^th Thanksgiving

I am filled with gratitude

And yes, a little joy.

May this next year

Bring a bit of joy

And happiness

And may our political

And other divisions

Begin to heal

As we realize

We are all in this world

Together

We are not enemies

We are friends, neighbors

Relatives

All connected

All part of the human family

That is what makes

Thanksgiving

My favorite holiday

As we gather together

And thanks.

For all we have.

I am grateful

For all the friends

I have known

I am most thankful

That I met

And married

The lady of my dreams

And that she is still

Here

and that is all

that matters

Aliens Stay for Thanksgiving Dinner

One day on Thanksgiving morning
Space aliens from Jupiter arrived
Landed in front of Sam Adams’s door
They knocked on the door

Explained they were from Jupiter
And had so many questions about humans
Sam told them well it was a special day
Thanksgiving day

And the aliens were welcome to stay
For a traditional Thanksgiving feast
The aliens accepted the invitation
Fascinated by the cooking

And eating the turkey
A bird they had never seen before
Over dinner, the aliens talked about
Their homeland

And the reason for their visit
They wanted to warn humanity
That they knew that climate change
Could end humanity’s reign

And the aliens were sympathetic
For they had fled to Europa
After they destroyed Venus
Due to climate change
Millions of years ago.

Trump’s Unhappy Thanksgiving Message

“Happy Thanksgiving to all,

including to the Radical Left Lunatics

who have worked

so hard to destroy our Country,

but who have miserably failed,”

“Their ideas and policies

are so hopelessly bad

that the great people of our Nation

just gave a landslide victory

Medium

https://medium.com/@jakealler/thanksgiving-poems-fa19eec376bc?sk=eb1e9fe8b598b4f32c665bc93f8fbe34

Substack

https://open.substack.com/pub/jakecosmosaller/p/thanksgiving-poems?r=3i9lm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Podcast

https://open.substack.com/pub/jakecosmosaller/p/thanksgiving-poems-0d3?r=3i9lm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Wattpad

You just published Thanksgiving !

Spotify

The End