The Friday Poem: Thanksgiving In Edgy Times

THANKSGIVING IN EDGY TIMES by Mary Susan Gast

These are edgy times.
Politically and economically tense,
And in suspense.
On edge.

Delicately and painfully balancing
On the border
Of want and plenty,
On the fringe of confidence,
On the rim of instability.

Are we over the edge
As a people?
Engulfed in the gulch
Of self-interest?

In turmoil and unease,
We edge toward Thanksgiving,
The Day,
If not
The attitude. 

Sidling slowly,
Or striding boldly,
Pulled along,
By the relentless public calendar,
Beyond which, or within which, or on top of which,

We might just possibly,
Tread onto
Or tap into
That persistently flickering,
Always glimmering,
Never extinguished,
E X P A N S I V E
Core
Of companionship and love,
Of compassion that overrides self-absorption,

That has been our fortune and sustenance,
As human beings,
Ever since
Life was first breathed
Into the dust of the Earth.

Following is a commentary by Patch poetry maestro Jeff Burkhart:

With the election over and Thanksgiving looming, I have been pouring over your submissions trying to find the perfect poem for this moment. All at once my friend, (and previous Friday Poem contributor) Mary Susan Gast, sent me a gift this morning. Her poem, "Thanksgiving in Edgy times" says all that needs to be said on these matters. 

The election is over here in America. Don't be angry. Don't gloat. Let us enjoy our similarities and not dwell on our differences. Let’s join together with our families and friends from both sides of the aisle and move onward and upward throughout this holiday season and for the next four years.

As an aside I would like to welcome our colleagues from India and Central Asia as well as all of our European friends who have submitted such fine work. Hungry young poets seeking a forum for their thoughts. It seems that the Patch's Friday Poem comes up near the top of Google's search engine therefore expanding our global reach. WOW! Our editor JB Davis, the City of Benicia, California and I would like to formally welcome all of you in the world and thank you for your work.

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If there’s something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor JB Davis at 707-628-0051 or email him at benicia@patch.com.