For Thanksgiving a prose poem of gratitude

giving thanks
for my life for my health that my legs work, that my heart and lungs and mind and hands and eyes are whole that all my parts of me work as they are supposed to, for my body, that i can dance and ride my bike, and get down on my knees or lie on the floor of the forest, that i can walk to the top of a mountain to offer my prayers for my spiritual path, that i feel such love for our Mother, the Earth, for all of Creation, for every living thing i am giving thanks that i am alive another year that i have what i need that i am a whole being that i am part of something much larger than just one woman


giving thanks
for another chance at love for true friendship, for my husband for the deep soul-love we share for his understanding his touch his unconditional loving his knowledge and kindness his companionship on our path his courage his perseverance his eyes that see me and know who i am and mostly for the way he says my name


giving thanks
for our children, for their beauty inside and out, for the young men my sons have become for their kindness their intelligence and spirit and enthusiasm for their lives for their health and goodness i give thanks, that they have taught me that they have stretched my heart and made me grow into more than i was before they were born for the beauty and love i know they bring to the table

giving thanks
for my family my parents and grandparents for brothers sisters and all who share my eyes and heart and lips and name for love for acceptance for honesty for connection memory and a hand given without thought of return

for my mother's courage and growth for the look in her eyes for the wisdom of her years and her experience for her folding and enfolding arms that she has never given up


giving thanks
for my friends, who know the core of me who know my darkness and still point to the light in me for lifetime friends and new friends for inspiration and tears and laughter and knowledge ... for the mirror they are to me for their faith and understanding


giving thanks
for our four-legged companions for their teachings their animal-wisdom gentle ways especially Sam who has saved my life more than once in his old-soul way


giving thanks
for our home Earth for this planet this jewel that is ours only to care for and the winged ones and swimming ones for insects and worms lions meadowlarks eagles and deer for the growing green things flower root leaf grain fruit tree fern for everything green


giving thanks
for clean water for rivers and rain mist for lightning for darkness and moonlight for snow and snowmelt glaciers ponds marsh ocean and bay for dancing aurora borealis for clouds for stars to remind us how small and how precious each of us -- each living being -- is ....