November winds strip trees of autumn glory.
Squirrels scamper in fallen leaves,
seeking nuts for winter stash.
We come inside, to this warm home
many of us coming from miles away.
We reconnect, play with little ones,
share new stories and old ones too.
We talk of elders who for so many years
graced the adult table when we were young.
This feast we put upon the table today
turkey, dressing, and all the fixings
cause for joy.
But the real feast is so much more.
It is the sharing, the sitting with,
the laughter and the caring.
It is in the actual gathering.
Our family in thanksgiving,
witness to our love.
Sanaa is hosting Tuesday Poetics at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets across the globe. She asks us today to think about what November means to us. Sadly, because of Covid, this will be the first time in fifty years, we will not travel to Chicago to be with our extended family for Thanksgiving. We miss them. Illustration: Norman Rockwell’s famous painting, Freedom from Want, which is in public domain.
lillian the home poet 
November as Thanksgiving – just as the year is disintegrating, a real high point of love and unity which your poem evokes
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I wonder how many gatherings that can happen this year or if we are forced to isolate for another six months… (it seems like it)
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Beautifully composed, we don’t have Thanksgiving here, but I think you’ll need it more than ever. Well done.
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Oh, this is beautifully heartwarming!
“We come inside, to this warm home
many of us coming from miles away.
We reconnect, play with little ones,
share new stories and old ones too.”
The essence of Thanksgiving itself described so perfectly. Such amazing writing here, and I too think about November in this way at times.
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We have a grey squirrel that visits, climbs the apple tree and teases our cats. I love to watch it. As you know, Lill, we don’t have Thanksgiving here but, even Christmas is just the two of us. I often wonder what it must be like to have a big family gathering like that, it must be so cosy. It’s such a shame that so many families will be apart this year.
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Perfect tear jerker for all of us yearning to celebrate in our traditional ways! Thank you so much for this!
Sent from my iPhone
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This one drew a deep sigh from me 😀 I have long loved the holiday of Thanksgiving! It’s such a warm and loving time of the year … being close to family and friends. Thank you so much for writing to the prompt, Lillian 💝
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it is a time to cherish for sure. Despite the weather i think it gives us lots to look forward to and this made me think about all those things
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Aw shucks. I smiled out loud at the adult table; it is a thing this changing of seats over the years.
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I know, we had our thanksgiving in October and I couldn’t see the entire family too due to Covid. It is the actual gathering that is most missed. But we make the most of our time and there’s a lot to be thankful.
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Wonderful. You describe a loving and cozy scene. I also like those squirrels. 🙂
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Beautiful, Lillian – this really captures the joy of family gatherings at this time of year. Unfortunately looks as though the pandemic will rob us of it this year but we will find whatever ways we can to connect, I’m sure.
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The message of the true feast we share with our loved one’s is touching. I think after this year we will all cherish these gatherings even more! Enjoyed this!
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delicious
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You enumerate so well the things about November that are important….the coming together of family, sharing of family stories and love. These gatherings will be limited this year due to Covid, and those who come from afar are sequestering at home. Technology will allow us to share love, but it won’t be the same., How I miss hugs!
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I do wish we were able to meet up with family as you’ll be doing. We’re heading back into strict lockdown again starting in a few hours. (sigh)
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I am with you! The best things served at Thanksgiving dinner are laughter, love, and sharing.
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This is sweet and tender Lillian. Beautiful times indeed.
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You could not have chosen a more fitting work of art ….. found myself staring for a bit. Trying to recapture memories of those long ago multi-generational Thanksgiving celebrations. Try as I might, that recapturing may be in vain this year. Your poem is beautifully composed.
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Was on my list of first times,not a real thanksgiving this year – anyway
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