Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Original Text
Edgar A. Guest, Just Folks (Chicago: Reilly & Lee, 1917), pp. 161-62. PS 3513 U45J77 1917 c. 1 ROBA
2An' eatin' an' laughin' with folks of your choice;
3An' kissin' the girls an' declarin' that they
4Are growin' more beautiful day after day;
5Chattin' an' braggin' a bit with the men,
6Buildin' the old family circle again;
7Livin' the wholesome an' old-fashioned cheer,
8Just for awhile at the end of the year.
9Greetings fly fast as we crowd through the door
10And under the old roof we gather once more
11Just as we did when the youngsters were small;
12Mother's a little bit grayer, that's all.
13Father's a little bit older, but still
14Ready to romp an' to laugh with a will.
15Here we are back at the table again
16Tellin' our stories as women an' men.
17Bowed are our heads for a moment in prayer;
18Oh, but we're grateful an' glad to be there.
19Home from the east land an' home from the west,
20Home with the folks that are dearest an' best.
21Out of the sham of the cities afar
22We've come for a time to be just what we are.
23Here we can talk of ourselves an' be frank,
24Forgettin' position an' station an' rank.
25Give me the end of the year an' its fun
26When most of the plannin' an' toilin' is done;
27Bring all the wanderers home to the nest,
28Let me sit down with the ones I love best,
29Hear the old voices still ringin' with song,
30See the old faces unblemished by wrong,
31See the old table with all of its chairs
32An' I'll put soul in my Thanksgivin' prayers.
Notes
1] American thanksgiving, November 27, is an important national holiday for which grown-up children travel to their parents' home to have the year's family reunion. Back to Line
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 1998.
Form