FOR the days when nothing happens, For the cares that leave no trace, For the love of little children, For each sunny dwelling-place, For the altars of our fathers, And the closets where we pray, Take, O gracious God and Father, Praises this Thanksgiving day. For our harvests safe ingathered, For our golden store of wheat, For the cornlands and the vinelands, For the flowers up-springing sweet, For our coasts from want protected, For each inlet, river, bay, By Thy bounty full and flowing, Take our praise this joyful day. For the dangers to the Nation Warded hence by sovereign love, For the country, strong and hopeful, Songs arise to God above. Never people called and chosen Had such loving-kindness shown As this people, God-defended! Therefore, praises to the throne! For our dear ones lifted higher Through the darkness to the light, Ours to love and ours to cherish In dear memory, beyond sight, For our kindred and acquaintance In Thy heaven who safely stay, We uplift our psalms of triumph, Lord, on this Thanksgiving day. For the quiet, uneventful, Blessed progress of our lives, For the love of friends and neighbors, Parents, children, husbands, wives, For the ever-present knowledge That our Saviour is our own, On this day of glad Thanksgiving Praises rise to reach the throne. For the hours when heaven is nearest And the earth-mood does not cling, For the very gloom oft broken By our looking for the King, By our thought that He is coming, For our courage on the way, Take, O Friend, unseen, eternal, Praises this Thanksgiving day. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FRIENDSHIP by RALPH WALDO EMERSON THE BALLAD OF EAST AND WEST by RUDYARD KIPLING SEA UNICORNS AND LAND UNICORNS by MARIANNE MOORE MAUDE CLARE by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE ARGONAUTS (ARGONATUICA): JASON'S SOWING AND REAPING by APOLLONIUS RHODIUS LINES PLACED OVER A CHIMNEY-PIECE by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE OLD TRAMP by PIERRE JEAN DE BERANGER |