Manitoba Thanksgiving

Lightly brown ten-pound turkey with bread stuffing

Surrounded by perfectly round golden yellow baby potatoes,

Carrots, onions, mushroom and celery

Apple or pumpkin pies set aside for dessert

Upon a table decorated with colorful dried corn, dried squash

Against a deep rich orange table cloth

Reflecting the rich fullness of colors of the Harvest moon

The table symbolizes unity, gratitude, and thankfulness

The earth has delivered its fertility to produce good food

Food that is shared and generously distributed

Mothers, wives, daughters slave away in the kitchen

To bring a smile of satisfaction on the faces of

Husbands, children's and invited guests.

We pray and give thanks

for life, friends and laughter

for the fertile soil that befriend our efforts

to survive in the wilderness of want

we do not take anything for granted

fearing mother earth might think us arrogant

we supplicate and prostrate on our knees

To demonstrate our humility.

Thanksgiving season is the reason

families come together to renew their connection

for life is fleeting and there's no announcement of its end

and through the medium of food, friendship, hugs and laughter

we say to each other you are all that matter