In this season of gratefulness, one of the ways to express your appreciation is through poetry. Let's take a look at some poetic ways to say thanks.
Let's begin by reading "The New England Boy's Song about Thanksgiving Day," by Lydia Marie Child. Read the poem aloud together. It begins:
Over the river, and through the wood,
To grandfather's house we go;
The horse knows the way,
To carry the sleigh,
Through the white and drifted snow.
Over the river, and through the wood,
To grandfather's house away!
We would not stop
For doll or top,
For 't is Thanksgiving day.
What are you looking forward to in this season? Does this poem capture any of your excitement?
Now let's think about how to celebrate gratefulness with your own poetry.
- Have each person in your family bring a poem to the dinner table and read it aloud together. If you have extended family over for Thanksgiving, this can be even more fun to see what everyone will bring!
- Cut out the shapes of leaves from colored paper. Then, write concrete poems (poems in the shape of leaves) about what you're grateful for. You can use the leaves to create a "tree of gratitude" that you can display on a door or wall!
- Think about one person that you're especially grateful for. It could be a family member, a friend, a teacher—anyone! Write or share a poem with them and let them know what a difference they've made in your life. This can be a wonderful way of blessing them in return!
- Write an ode to your favorite Thanksgiving food. This one is a bit sillier, but it's still a good reminder to be thankful for the food you get to enjoy! If you want to add a twist to this prompt, write an ode to your favorite Thanksgiving leftovers. They so often don't get the appreciation they deserve!
- You can also check out our autumnal Poetry Teatime ideas for decor, food, and activities to complement a gratitude-filled celebration!
Do you have other ideas for poetic ways to celebrate your gratefulness? Let us know by sharing your ideas!