Thanksgiving Reflections

Reflections on the 400th Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving thoughts and updates
thanksgiving update

Thanksgiving Reflections on the 401th Thanksgiving Celebration

 

Index

 

Thanksgiving Reflections on the 401th 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

Thanksgiving Jiyu-shi

Space Aliens Invade Thanksgiving

 

Thanksgiving Reflections on the 401th Anniversary of Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

Today in honor of the 401th 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 a 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.

 

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 bread crumbs

 

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

 

Sam’s 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 traveled

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.

*Note: This poem is technically incorrect, in that the second incidence of a-rhyme replaces the required b-rhyme in S2

 

This week’s event is to write a GRATEFULNESS SENRYU – You may use the event picture or your own. Enjoy! Click here to see a list of insects ============================================================================== MODERN SENRYU is a Japanese poem similar to Haiku but It’s about human nature and it doesn’t include a season word (kigo). It’s written in one to four lines with no strict syllable count, but brief. These poems use a pause usually marked by a dash before the satori (an insightful twist to ponder). Alliteration and metaphor are okay. Never rhymes. the em-dash ( — ) is used to emphasize an interruption in a speech before the satori.

 

 

 

 

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 traditional

Thanksgiving dinner

 

but it is hard

doing so overseas

where 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

Than 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

 

Forever thankful

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 for 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

 

39 years ago

I met my fate

On that date.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Senryu

 

This Thanksgiving

Celebration of life

COVID is Ending

 

 

 

 

Turkey

T is for Turkey

The country and bird

The 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 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

 

As the Thanksgiving

Turkey revolt.

 

 

 

Another Thanksgiving Nightmare from Turkey’s Point of View

 

Death to All Humans Turkey Screams

 

The big feast was ready and the family made its way to the dinner table when suddenly, the turkey woke up, jumping off the table he picks up a knife and attacks and kills the family screaming   “Death to all humans” Ending the Thanksgiving Day a feast for the family.   ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What am I grateful for?  Thanksgiving Day Poem

 

On this 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

39 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 this Thanksgiving Day 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 say

 

Happy Thanksgiving Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 game if you’re game.

Write a story or poem featuring a puny situation.

Make one of the genres of Comedy.

 

 

Thanksgiving Momento Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Momento Momento

Thanksgiving Momento Fan story

 

Thanksgiving mood.

Feeling the blues.

Families gathering.

Eating too much food.

Watching the news.

Relatives blathering.

 

 

Thanksgiving Moods Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Moods Family

Thanksgiving Moods Fan Story

 

on Thanksgiving Day

We sit down with family.

happy to be alive.

 

This week I will write a THANKSGIVING 5/7/5 about gratefulness. 5/7/5 poems only have one rule, the syllables and lines count but it has to be exactly 5/7/5 syllables. If you want you can write it as a haiku or senryu but you don’t have to. It can be serious or funny …. anything related to Thanksgiving Day.

You may use the club event’s picture or your own.

 

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 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

 

As the 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 the 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 give thanks.

For all we have.

 

I am grateful

For all the friends

I have known

 

I am most thankfull

That I met

And married

 

The lady of my dreams

And that she is still

Here

 

and that is all

that matters

 

 

 

Write a poem about someone or something you are thankful for. Express your gratitude in any style or structure you choose. This is a Winless contest. Only authors that have not won first place in 30 days may enter. You qualify and can enter this contest.

 

Aliens Stay for Thanksgiving Dinner Writers’ Cramp

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.