Poems on Traditional Thanksgiving Reflections
These poems capture the essence of Thanksgiving traditions, honoring its history, significance, and the timeless values it represents.Poet: Crocket McElroy
In this beautiful world,
Where love's flag is unfurled
And given free scope to wave and entwine;
It does not become man
To complain of the plan,
Established by a Creator divine.
And on Thanksgiving Day
While we sing and we pray,
And give thanks for the rich stores we possess;
Our hearts should open wide,
To the poor by our side,
And take measures to relieve their distress.
For happy is the part,
Where there's love in the heart,
To lighten the sorrows of one in need;
And peace comes to the breast,
When we help the distrest,
And, O God, what joy comes from a good deed.
Poet: J. J. Montague
With steadfast and unwavering faith, with hard and patient toil,
The pilgrims wrung their harvest from a strange and sterile soil.
And when the leaves turned red and gold beneath the autumn sun,
They knelt beside the scanty sheaves Their laboring hands had won,
And each grave elder, in his turn, with bowed and reverent head,
Gave thanks to bounteous Heaven for the miracle of bread.
And so was born Thanksgiving Day. That little dauntless band,
Beset by deadly perils in a wild and alien land,
With hears that held no fear of death, with stern, unbending wills,
And faith as firmly founded as the grim New England hills,
Though pitiful the yield that sprang from that unfruitful sod,
Remembering in their harvest time the goodly grace of God.
God grant us grace to look on this, our Glorious native land,
As but another princely gift from His almighty hand.
May we prove worthy of His trust and keep its every shore
Protected from the murderous hordes that bear the torch of war,
And be the future bright or dark God grant we never may
Forget the reverent spirit of that first Thanksgiving Day.
Key points in these Poems on Traditional Thanksgiving Reflections:
- Gratitude and Compassion - Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the blessings we have, but it’s also important to open our hearts to those in need. True happiness comes from helping others and practicing kindness, especially toward the less fortunate.
- Acknowledging Faith and Hardship - Thanksgiving serves as a reminder of the challenges and sacrifices made by those before us. It honors the strength, faith, and perseverance required to overcome difficulties, and encourages a deep sense of gratitude for the blessings that have followed.
- Divine Blessings and the Spirit of Thanksgiving - Thanksgiving is not just about material abundance but about recognizing the spiritual and divine blessings in our lives. It’s a time to appreciate the gifts we’ve received and to reflect on the importance of gratitude, love, and faith in our daily lives.
Related: Thanksgiving Blessings
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Expressions of Gratitude Poems
Celebrate the spirit of thankfulness with these poems that highlight the beauty of appreciating life’s blessings, big and small.Poet: Julie Hebert
Our lives are filled with things to be thankful for,
Yet most are never acknowledged.
The little things all around us get missed,
Be thankful for all things, not just our home, car, or going to college.
Be thankful for the small things we take for granted,
Our pillows and blankets, toothbrush and grocery list.
All of these things are worth appreciation,
For without them, they would be missed.
Take a look around you at this very moment,
What things do you see?
Some things yes you could live without,
But they bring you so much glee.
So even though you can live without some things,
The happiness they bring is a must.
Be thankful for all the things in your life,
Give Thanksgiving in all we've discussed.
Thankful For Poems
Poet: Ralph Waldo Emerson
For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.
For blue of stream and blue of sky;
For pleasant shade of branches high;
For fragrant air and cooling breeze;
For beauty of the blooming trees,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.
Poet: Mattie M. Renwick
For flowers so beautiful and sweet,
For friends and clothes and food to eat,
For precious hours, for work and play,
We thank Thee this Thanksgiving Day.
For father's care and mother's love,
For the blue sky and clouds above,
For springtime and autumn gay
We thank Thee this Thanksgiving Day!
For all Thy gifts so good and fair,
Bestowed so freely everywhere,
Give us grateful hearts we pray,
To thank Thee this Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving Prayers
Poet: Katharine Tynan
I thank God when I kneel to pray
That mine is still the middle way,
Set in a safe and sweet estate
Between the little and the great;
Not troubled with wealth's cares nor yet
Too poor where needs that cark and fret
Push out sweet leisure and green nooks,
And give no chance for talk and books.
I take my middle way between
The mansion and a lodging mean.
My cottage at the country's edge
Hath sweetbriar growing in its hedge,
Honesty, heartsease and sweet-peas,
Herb-bennet, love-in-idleness.
Give me a tree, a well, a hive,
And I can save my soul alive,
Yet be as poor in spirit as
The Poverello's Lady was.
I covet not soft silk or lace
Nor any lovely lady's face;
Nor yet would go in hodden grey;
But lawns and wool be my array.
I still may ask a friend to dine
And set him meat and pour him wine;
Nor count the coins within my purse
To see that I am nothing worse.
I thank God that my middle place
Is set amid much pleasantness.
And not too high and not too low
The safe, untroubled path I go.
Key points in these Expressions of Gratitude Poems:
- Gratitude for the Small Things – Thanksgiving should include appreciation for everyday blessings that are often overlooked, like comfort items and simple joys.
- Appreciation for Nature's Beauty – Giving thanks for the natural world, such as flowers, trees, and the sky, recognizing the beauty and wonder in all of creation.
- Gratitude for Relationships and Contentment – Acknowledging the importance of family, friends, and a life of balance and contentment, valuing both material and non-material blessings.
Related: Gratitude Poems
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Poems of Faith and Thanksgiving
Rooted in faith, these poems reflect on divine blessings, gratitude to God, and the spiritual essence of Thanksgiving.Poet: Lucy M. Hewlings
As a flower from the sod looks up
To greet the gladsome light
That fills with fragrance its gay cup.
And makes its petals bright;
So may our hearts look up to Thee,
Oh God, our sun, our spring!
And every grateful faculty
To Thee its glad song sing!
For tables bountifully spread.
For homes, and hearts that love,
For every good that crowns our head,
For hopes that lure above;
For all the streams of good that flow
Down from Thy distant rills.
We thank Thee; for they come, we know.
From Thine eternal hills.
We thank Thee for the friends still ours;
We thank Thee none the less
For those we've had, although their powers
Our lives no longer bless.
For like a meteor in the sky.
Though they have gone from sight.
Their passing trail still greets the eye.
And makes our night-sky bright.
Teach us to hear the songs of life;
Teach us to see its beauty;
Oh make us manly in its strife.
Nor ever deaf to duty.
And since whate'er we have was given,
And still by right is Thine,
Teach us that earth is likest heaven
Through charity divine.
Poet: C. A. Lynch
In humble grace, we gather near,
As autumn's breath draws tender cheer.
Thanksgiving, a pause to deeply reflect,
On blessings woven through life's intricate sect.
For sacred moments shared amidst strife,
And gracious gifts that shape our life.
With hearts ablaze, we give thanks anew;
How blessed we are, our gratitude true.
Key points in these Poems of Faith and Thanksgiving:
- Thanks for Life's Blessings – Acknowledging and giving thanks for the many blessings in life, including food, shelter, love, friendship, and the beauty found in both the present and the past.
- Appreciation for Relationships – Recognizing the value of relationships, both with those who are present and those who have passed, and the lasting impact they leave on our lives.
- Gratitude Through Reflection and Charity – Taking time to reflect on the blessings in our lives and expressing gratitude, while remembering to give with a charitable heart, as a way to honor the gifts we have received.
Related: Christian Poems For Thanksgiving
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Short Thanksgiving Poems
These brief yet meaningful poems are perfect for sharing in cards, text messages, or reflections, capturing the joy of Thanksgiving in just a few lines.Gratitude’s not just for Thanksgiving day,
It’s in each step along the way.
For every sunrise, every cheer,
Let’s give our thanks throughout the year.
For family near and friends so true,
We thank the Lord for all they do.
With hearts of love, we gather near,
A blessed time, full of cheer.
Don’t let life’s rush make you forget,
The beauty in skies, oceans, and sunset.
God’s an artist, with His hand so true,
In every landscape, His love shines through.
We are thankful for riches, health, and fame,
For big things bright that light the flame.
But often, at Thanksgiving, we fail to see,
The simple gifts that have been given to you and me.
Grateful hearts and tables full,
Laughter rings as blessings pull.
Family near, the feast begins,
In love and thanks, true joy begins.
Thanksgiving Quotes
From humble hands and hearts so true,
The first Thanksgiving came into view.
A time of thanks for life and grace,
Remembering those who set the pace.
This Thanksgiving, for all we have, we give our praise,
But let our hearts be open always.
To those in need, both far and near,
We share God’s love, and hold them dear.
Gracious God, we thank You for each day,
For the love we share and the skies of blue, we pray.
Bless our hearts, our homes, and our friends,
And guide us with love that never ends.
Related: Thanksgiving Wishes
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