Monday's Poetry: "Thanksgiving Day"

by Pa Rock
Poetry Appreciator

Today's selection, "Thanksgiving Day" by Lydia Maria Child, is an old-fashioned verse that captures a Currier and Ives image of an ideal holiday that we would all liked to have experienced.  I particularly appreciated the notion of snow at Thanksgiving which did remind me of two consecutive Thanksgivings when I was a child here in the Ozarks and each was marked with the first snowfall of the season.  Now, thanks to the continual neglect of mankind, the climate has changed to the point that snow in the Ozarks is a rarity.

Like the narrator of this poem, the Thanksgivings that I best remember are those that took place at my grandparent's house - a rural setting with a table heaped high and cousins aplenty!  When it did snow, that just made it better.

Here is a quick glimpse of the prelude to an old-time Thanksgiving.

Drive safely, behave responsibly, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving with people you love - or in the service of others.

Thanksgiving Day

by Lydia Maria Child

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—
  Oh, how the wind does blow!
       It stings the toes 
       And bites the nose
  As over the ground we go.

Over the river, and through the wood,
  To have a first-rate play.
       Hear the bells ring 
       “Ting-a-ling-ding”,
  Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river, and through the wood
  Trot fast, my dapple-gray!
       Spring over the ground, 
       Like a hunting-hound!
  For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river, and through the wood,
  And straight through the barn-yard gate.
       We seem to go 
       Extremely slow,—
  It is so hard to wait!

Over the river and through the wood—
  Now grandmother’s cap I spy!
       Hurrah for the fun! 
       Is the pudding done?
  Hurrah for the pumpkin-pie!