On this day, like a cold wraith, I haunt those who gather showing faith,
Not genuine faith, but the kind that’s on display for family—
The kind that holds up shit for the sake of ill-advised tradition—
The kind that holds up exclusive privilege as divine blessings;
All of this done around a gluttonous feast we call Thanksgiving
So that those of us lucky enough can cherish our memories.
But what good are those dreamy things hiding our tendril memories
Goring deep in our souls and desecrating what’s left of our faith?
We sit there at these fancy tables and gorge on our Thanksgiving
Feasts, all the while ignoring the lonely in need of family—
People who would die to receive even an eighth of such blessings—
So that we can feel everything is right with the world’s traditions.
Look, hey friend, I am not here to knock everybody’s traditions—
I am not here to burst a bubbled existence’s memories—
I am not here to burst a bubbled existence’s memories—
I am just saying that what we are thanking God for, those blessings,
Are empty because we are forgetting the core essence of faith.
Faith expressions are not exclusively reserved for family;
Only when we recognize that will we show God true thanksgiving.
And, friend, isn’t that what this season is all about: Thanksgiving?
That state of being is more than an attitude or tradition.
It goes beyond material goods and the bonds of family,
And far beyond the vague nothingness of our shoddy memories—
Back to the very foundation of our strong fortress: our own faith.
It is that foundation that is the wellspring of all our blessings.
Friend, blessings are not to hoard; rather, they’e for showering blessings
On “the least of these” among us so that they can feel Thanksgiving
To God for supplying them with what they need and renewing faith
That will build them, and the world around them, up in new tradition—
A tradition that will honor and bless all people’s memories,
Happy or haunting—in solidarity as a family.
And God created us, if you believe, to be a family—
Not divided, but filled with empathy and love—sharing blessings.
Even if you don’t believe, surely you must see that memories
Of deceit cloud our discernment and expose our own Thanksgiving
As empty in this current state of greedy gluttons’ tradition.
This, friend, cannot be considered any real sign of a true faith.
Though I have my own blessings, I am not content with Thanksgiving
Moments—even memories—that’re serving nothing but tradition.
What I want for the human family: to display a true faith.
© 2024 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
-
Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: November 28th, 2024 08:15
- Comment from author about the poem: Form: Sestina. Meter: Octameter. This poem is in response to Sparkle City Magic’s Mystical Adventure ~ Week #9 prompts (Medium.com). The prompts used: family, tradition, blessings, thanksgiving, and memories. I added the word faith which is often associated with holidays and familiy traditions. Many thanks to Brenda Arledge and editors for giving me a space here. For them, and for all of you who read, comment and support, I am eternally thankful. YOU are a blessing to me, beyond words, and I am so happy to be a part of the Sparkle City Magic/Mid-Knight Falls, and Writes By Mental Health families (we’re all one fam anyway❤️), as well as the families I have on MyPoeticSide and Poetizer. I love you all! I value you more than any stale tradition and I am filled with countless memories of our interactions. You all have given me a renewed faith in there being some good in this dark, cruel world.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 17
- Users favorite of this poem: Cassie58, Teddy.15
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Comments7
So very well said Tristan. So many who won’t be having a special day today while others get excessive. I read your notes too. The other side of the coin. We are all blessed in this place by your presence and I thank you for your friendship. That meant a lot.
Indeed. So glad to be here and to have you and all as friends and fellow poetic sojourners! I feel truly blessed and thankful! 😇❤️ Thank you Cassie for your friendship, time, support and feedback! 🙏❤️
Excellent write Tristan
Thank you Tony! Much appreciated. ❤️🙏
You're welcome Tristan
Our guinea pigs are not having a special day, that's for sure, being mistaken for hamsters, etc!
Like it or not, an American boss always bought cake in to work on July 4th - whether we Britons agreed with Independence Day or not. lol.
LOL! That sounds distinctly American of him/her! 🤣 Yet, we think people should just love us everywhere we go! I mean, we're American...surely the world knows this and celebrates! 🤣🤦♂️ I hope you can sense the sarcasm here! LOL! Thank you for your engagement my friend and, for what it's worth...Happy Thanksgiving! LOL! 😂 ❤️
AMEN! 🙏
A most resplendent
and refreshing poem,
and message penned! 👍
So true thank you,
much enjoyed my friend!!🤗
Best regards ✌️ peace Thad
🤗 Thank you, Thad! Much appreciated! I truly am glad the poem resonated and you enjoyed! I am thankful for you my friend! 🙏❤️
Yes, Cristiano, you and I are on the same page today and I echo your feelings have a wonderful holiday
Amen! You too, Soren! I smiled wide when I read your poem earlier! Indeed we are. I wish you and family a very blessed Thanksgiving. Thank you, kindly, for your time and your engagement. 🙏❤️
Going to give this one a big miss lest I embroil myself in the mysteries of another culture.😇
Model critique though, Tristan.
Lol! I don’t blame you! Thank you for reading and commenting my friend. That, for me, is never a miss. 🙏❤️
Wonderful write, all the traditions in the world mean nowt if it's not done with the heart. ❤️
Amen! So very true. The main point of this and today’s poems for sure. Thank you so much for your tine and feedback, Teddy! I appreciate you my friend! 🙏❤️
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