Religious Thanksgiving Poems
These poems reflect gratitude and faith, celebrating the blessings of life.Poet: Eleanor Halbrook Zimmerman
Thanksgiving comes but once a year,
And yet the whole year round
The heart of love, the heart of cheer
Will make a joyful sound;
And we who keep Christ's loving way
Will have Thanksgiving every day.
Thanksgiving comes but once a year,
But harvests need not wait;
We can cast all our doubt and fear
Daily, and soon or late
Find harvests in our hearts that shine
More fair than wheat fields can design.
Rejoice on this Thanksgiving Day
That it peed have no end;
That every' hour in every way
Life is a steadfast friend
To all who practice well the art
Of true Thanksgiving in the heart!
Psalm 100 (NLT)
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
By Jason Kirk Bartley
We gathered over at grandma's,
and boy was the house filled,
With the smell of turkey roasting and joyful toasting,
everyone's drinks were spilled.
You could hear my cousins boasting
of everything they had done.
Then there was the Parkers who
talked about everyone.
No one was missing,
but an empty seat was all spread,
Grander than the others,
as we sat down to eat grandma’s fresh baked bread.
My uncle was perplexed at where the seat was sitting,
at the table's head.
But it didn't interrupt Aunt Sue who finished up her knitting,
and didn't finish what she said.
My little nephew exclaimed,
“Who is sitting there today?”
Grandma came over and draped her arm over his little shoulder
in such a loving way.
“This seat's for Jesus",
is all she had to say.
Everyone was whispering
as grandma began to pray.
She invited Jesus to sit with them and
eat this marvelous Thanksgiving day.
She went over and served Him as if He were really there,
sitting in amongst them in that empty chair.
My cousins started chuckling,
for the antics were too great.
But we knew He'd come,
because Jesus is never late.
That did not stop my nephew,
Jimmie from giving as an offering to Jesus his last roll,
‘Cause Jimmie knew that if he asked
Jesus would save his soul.
We could not see the Savior, but we knew He was there for real,
waiting in amongst us 'cause His Spirit we could feel.
He was in each heart and in that empty chair.
We knew that Jesus had come and dined with us.
He was really there.
Poet: Hattie Whitney
The busy year has ceased its toil,
Its peaceful hour of twilight won;
Its leaves and bloom are laid away,
Its webs of shade and luster spun;
The fleeces of the fields are shorn,
The fruitage gathered from the bough;
The fervor of the sun is lost -
The weary world is resting now.
As gloaming lies 'twixt day and dark,
There comes a little space between
The bitter wastes of winter snow
And autumn's matchless gold and green;
And though the world be chill without,
In this late twilight of the year,
The gray month bears a jeweled link -
A day of happiness and cheer.
So, troubled Marthas of the land,
Unbind the burden of your woes;
Recall the words the Savior spoke;
Seek out the part that Mary chose.
Sit down, in peace, beside your hearth;
Let fretting sorrows drift away,
And take unto your weary hearts
The lesson of Thanksgiving Day.
Happy Thanksgiving Quotes
Poet: Laura Lee Randall
This is the day the Lord hath made;
Be glad, give thanks, rejoice;
Stand in his presence, unafraid,
In praise lift up your voice.
All perfect gifts are from above,
And all our blessings show
The amplitude of God's dear love
Which every heart may know.
The Lord will hear before we call,
And every need supply;
Good things are freely given to all
Who on His word rely.
We come today to bring Him praise
Not for such gifts alone,
But for the higher, deeper ways
In which His love is shown.
For sin destroyed, for sorrow healed.
For health and peace restored;
For Life and Love by Truth revealed,
We thank and bless the Lord.
This is the day the Lord hath made,
In praise lift up your voice.
In shining robes of joy arrayed,
Be glad, give thanks, rejoice.
Poet: Margaret E. Sangster
The yellow has gone from the maples,
The birds fly away to the South,
I hear the great blast of the north wind,
A trumpet with storms in its mouth.
Ere long and the snow will be falling,
The twilight come early and cold,
And the beautiful runes of the summer
Shall be but as tales that are told.
Yet now is the time for Thanksgiving,
For music and greetings and mirth;
A song for the old folk we honor -
A song for the little one's birth.
In the home as we joyfully gather,
As gayly we sit at the board,
We lift up our praise to the Father:
Accept our Thanksgiving, O Lord!
For the land of our love and our freedom,
For harvests in byre and bin,
For the flag on the school and our steeple,
For fruits in their wealth garnered in.
Dear Lord, when we count up thy mercies.
Bewildered we pause in the task,
So swift and so large is thy goodness,
Outrunning the favors we ask.
The kindred come home for Thanksgiving,
Sweet children, old men with gray hair;
And sometimes the poor and the stranger
The love and the tenderness share.
God make us like him in our giving,
Like him in our grace and our love,
And so shall the light of our living
Be caught from his temple above.
Related: Christian Poems
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Inspirational Thanksgiving Poems
These uplifting verses encourage appreciation and positivity during the holiday.Poet: Helen Steiner Rice
Take nothing for granted, for whenever you do
The "joy of enjoying" is lessened for you -
For we rob our own lives much more than we know
When we fail to respond or in any way show
Our thanks for the blessings that daily are ours . . .
The warmth of the sun, the fragrance of flowers,
The beauty of twilight, the freshness of dawn,
The coolness of dew on a green velvet lawn,
The kind little deeds so thoughtfully done,
The favors of friends and the love that someone
Unselfishly gives us in a myriad of ways,
Expecting no payment and no words of praise -
Oh, great is our loss when we no longer find
A thankful response to things of this kind,
For the joy of enjoying and the fullness of living
Are found in the heart that is filled with thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Wishes
Poet: Judith A. Lindberg
The simplicity is overwhelming,
For what we plant, we also reap.
Lord, grant us soul seeds,
That we may plant them with love,
Weather them with tears of compassion,
Nurture them with embraces of warmth,
Protect them from the storms of life.
Bless this bounty with grace and gentleness,
That the harvest will be abundant
In love, in trust, to be shared
With those closest to our hearts.
May we plant soul seeds for strength,
Harvested in hope this Thanksgiving,
For all the days and years that follow.
Poet: Edgar A. Guest
Thankful for the glory of the old Red, White and Blue,
For the spirit of America that still is staunch and true,
For the laughter of our children and the sunlight in their eyes,
And the joy of radiant mothers and their evening lullabies;
And thankful that our harvests wear no taint of blood to-day,
But were sown and reaped by toilers who were light of heart and gay.
Thankful for the riches that are ours to claim and keep,
The joy of honest labor and the boon of happy sleep.
For each little family circle where there is no empty chair
Save where God has sent the sorrow for the loving hearts to bear;
And thankful for the loyal souls and brave hearts of the past
Who builded that contentment should be with us to the last.
Thankful for the plenty that our peaceful land has blessed,
For the rising sun that beckons every man to do his best.
For the goal that lies before him and the promise when he sows
That his hand shall reap the harvest, undisturbed by cruel foes;
For the flaming torch of justice, symbolizing as it burns:
Here none may rob the toiler of the prize he fairly earns.
To-day our thanks we're giving for the riches that are ours,
For the red fruits of the orchards and the perfume of the flowers
. For our homes with laughter ringing and our hearthfires blazing bright,
For our land of peace and plenty and our land of truth and right;
And we're thankful for the glory of the old Red, White and Blue,
For the spirit of our fathers and a manhood that is true.
Poet Unknown
It is good
To set aside a day when we remember
That the beauty about us —
The land, the sea, the sky,
And all that is,
Is not as a result of our power,
But really, truly
Because of the Divine love
And providence of God
Who cares.
Father, instill in us
A right spirit,
So that what we see
Is not so much
The many things we have
For our own,
But what others do not have
To call their own.
Thus — in this light
Let us be thankful.
Thanksgiving — quite inexpressible in words
Yet adequately expressed
In little deeds or silent gifts
That arise spontaneously
Almost sympathetically
When the chord of love is struck.
Thus, in the touch of a moment
We express something almost inexpressible
And we give thanks.
Related: Famous Thanksgiving Poems
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Family and Togetherness Thanksgiving Poems
These heartfelt poems highlight the joy of gathering with loved ones.Poet: Edgar A. Guest
Gettin' together to smile an' rejoice,
An' eatin' an' laughin' with folks of your choice;
An' kissin' the girls an' declarin' that they
Are growin more beautiful day after day;
Chattin' an' braggin' a bit with the men,
Buildin' the old family circle again;
Livin' the wholesome an' old-fashioned cheer,
Just for awhile at the end of the year.
Greetings fly fast as we crowd through the door
And under the old roof we gather once more
Just as we did when the youngsters were small;
Mother's a little bit grayer, that's all.
Father's a little bit older, but still
Ready to romp an' to laugh with a will.
Here we are back at the table again
Tellin' our stories as women and men.
Bowed are our heads for a moment in prayer;
Oh, but we're grateful an' glad to be there.
Home from the east land an' home from the west,
Home with the folks that are dearest an' best.
Out of the sham of the cities afar
We've come for a time to be just what we are.
Here we can talk of ourselves an' be frank,
Forgettin' position an' station an' rank.
Give me the end of the year an' its fun
When most of the plannin' an' toilin' is done;
Bring all the wanderers home to the nest,
Let me sit down with the ones I love best,
Hear the old voices still ringin' with song,
See the old faces unblemished by wrong,
See the old table with all of its chairs
An I'll put soul in my Thanksgivin' prayers.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
Thanksgiving dinner, what a feast!
Roasted turkey, stuffing galore, it's a beast!
But the star of this delightful retreat,
Is Mom's pumpkin pie, oh so sweet.
The aroma fills the room with delight,
Golden crust, a heavenly sight.
With every bite, my heart takes flight,
Oh, Mom's pumpkin pie, pure delight!
Thanksgiving Poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Poet: Dorothy Brown Thompson
Thanksgiving kitchens
Are gay with color —
Pumpkins are yellow.
Apples are red;
And though the puddings
Are somewhat duller,
A richer fragrance
Is theirs instead.
And what a fragrance!
Spices and sweetness
Wreathing steam-clouds
Round eager faces;
The turkey stuffed to
Luscious repleteness;
Thanksgiving kitchens —
Promising places!
Poet: Harriet McEwen Kimball
This is the feast-time of the year,
When hearts grow warmer, and home more dear;
When autumn's crimson torch expires,
To flash again in winter fires;
And they who tracked October's flight,
In charmed circle sit and praise
The goodly logs' triumphant blaze.
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
We are surrounded by family, on this joyful day,
Thanksgiving is here, let merriment sway!
Laughter echoes through the air so free,
Creating memories that forever will be.
With every smile, and every hug we share,
The warmth in our hearts is beyond compare.
In the presence of loved ones, oh how we delight,
This holiday brings us immense joy and endless light.
Related: Thanksgiving Family Poems
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Thanksgiving Prayer Poems
These poems express prayers of thanks, honoring the spirit of the holiday.Poet: Blanche Lea Walden
For those who bravely dared to face
The wolf-fangs of the sea,
To find a land where they might dwell
In faith and liberty.
For pioneers who blazed the trails
And broke the virgin sod
With strength and spirit, firm, and sure,
Today, we thank thee, God!
For ancestors with a vision
As wide and deep and high
And as filled with stars of promise
As the eternal sky,
For health and homes and country
And laughter, sweet and gay
For all of these - and love and faith
We thank thee, God, today!
Poet: William Dean Howells
Lord, for the erring thought
Not into evil wrought;
Lord, for the wicked will
Betrayed and baffled still;
For the heart from itself kept, -
Our thanksgiving accept.
For ignorant hopes that were
Broken to our blind prayer;
For pain, death, sorrow, sent
Unto our chastisement;
For all loss of seeming good,-
Quicken our gratitude.
Be Thankful Poems
by Rev. George T. Packard
"If these should hold their peace," the leaves
In autumn fields would murmur praise,
And garnered grain, with tuneful sheaves,
Would own the gift of harvest days!
Then hold not thou thy peace, my heart!
Let love make music sweet and strong!
With choirs above thou hast a part,
And thine the new thanksgiving song!
Poet: Agnes Maule Machar
For the gladness of the sunshine.
For the dropping of the rain,
For the springtide's bloom of promise,
For the autumn's golden grain,
For the beauty of the forest.
For the fatness of the field,
For the orchard's rosy fruitage,
For the vineyard's luscious yield.
We thank Thee, O Lord!
For the nobler, richer beauty,
For the light that spirits know,
For the sacredness of duty
Guiding us through life below.
For our earthly ties so precious,
For the fireside warm and bright,
For the faith that through the darkness
Leads us to immortal light,
We thank Thee, O Lord!
For the drought that parched and withered.
For the blast that bared the bough,
For the clouds concealing blessings
That we may not measure now,
For our gladness and our sorrow.
For our poverty and wealth.
For our getting and our losing,
For our sickness and our health.
We thank Thee, O Lord!
For the losses and the crosses
Coming sore against our will;
From Thy hand each good gift cometh,
And, not less, the seeming ill.
What Thou givest in Thy wisdom.
That alone to us is blest.
And of all Thy countless givings,
For Thy boundless love, the best,
We thank Thee, Lord!
Poet: Unknown
There's not a leaf within the bower,-
There's not a bird upon the tree,-
There's not a dewdrop on the flower,-
But bears the impress, Lord, of Thee.
Thy power the varied leaf designed,
And gave the bird its thrilling tone;
Thy hand the dewdrops' tints combined,
Till like a diamond's blaze they shone.
Yes, dewdrops, leaves and buds, and all,-
The smallest, like the greatest things,-
The sea's vast space, the earth's wide ball,
Alike proclaim Thee, King of kings!
But man alone, to bounteous Heaven,
Thanksgiving's conscious strains can raise:
To favored man, alone, 'tis given,
To join the angelic choir in praise.
Related: Thanksgiving Prayers
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Fun and Joyful Thanksgiving Poems
These playful poems bring laughter and cheer to the Thanksgiving celebration.Poet: Edward Sherwood Creamer
At the gateway of the winter now comes Thanksgiving tide.
In the glory of its atmosphere, its pie and turkey pride,
And it is most becoming that its cheer should far and wide abound.
E'en going to the humblest home where'er it may be found.
In olden time Thanksgiving was for harvests poor or good.
The corn, the pumpkin, wheat, and all that gave a livelihood,
For poor returns the Pilgrims held up their hearts in praise,
Far greater should our thanks be that live in these glorious days.
Then welcome be Thanksgiving with its manifold feasts and joys;
Under many a homestead roof now gather the girls and boys;
And though some of us fail somewhat in harvests where we strive,
We should be thankful for our hopes, and that we are alive.
Then pass around the turkey, the mince and apple pies;
Don't slight the poor and needy if in wisdom you'd be wise,
To relieve distress our people have only to be told,
For Lord be thanked the human heart is yet as good as gold!
Thanksgiving Lesson
Poet: Marian Douglas
Said old gentleman Gay, "On a Thanksgiving Day,
If you want a good time, then give something away."
So he sent a fat turkey to shoemaker Price;
And the shoemaker said: "What a big bird! How nice!
And since such a good dinner's before me I ought
To give poor widow Lee the small chicken I bought."
"This fine chicken, O see!" said the pleased widow Lee.
"And the kindness that sent it, how precious to me!
I would like to make some one as happy as I;
I'll give washwoman Biddy my big pumpkin pie."
"And sure," Biddy said, "'tis the queen of all pies.
Just to look at its yellow face gladdens my eyes.
Now it's my turn, I think; and a sweet ginger-cake
For the motherless Finnigan children I'll bake."
"A sweet cake all our own! 'Tis too good to be true,"
Said the Finnigan children. Rose, Denny, and Hugh:
"It smells of sweet spice, and we'll carry a slice
To poor little lame Jake, who has nothing that's nice."
"O, thank you and thank you," said little lame Jake:
"What a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful cake!
And such a big slice! I'll save all the crumbs
And give them to each little sparrow that comes."
And the sparrows, they twittered as if they would say,
Like old gentleman Gay, "On a Thanksgiving day,
If you want a good time, then give something away."
Poet: Cobb
For harvest safely stored away,
For snug warm home when skies are gray,
For work well done and it's reward,
Throughout this happy land is heard
Thanksgiving.
For all the blessings of the year.
For all the friends to us so dear.
For sweet content this glad day brings,
My heart breaks out in joy and sings
Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Friendship Poem
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
We gather ‘round the table, smiles wide and bright,
The turkey’s golden, the pies just right.
Potatoes, stuffing, and gravy galore,
We pile our plates, then head back for more!
But after the feast, there’s no denying,
Our belts are tight, and buttons are flying!
We’ve eaten enough for a week, maybe two,
Now all we can do is waddle on through.
We laugh as we sway, stuffed to the brim,
With thanks in our hearts, though walking’s quite grim!
But that’s Thanksgiving, full of joy and cheer —
We waddle away, but we’ll be back next year!
Related: Funny Thanksgiving Poems
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Thankful Heart Poems
These touching poems convey deep gratitude for life’s simple pleasures.Poet: Arthur Guiterman
I wish you all that pen and ink
Could write, and then some more!
I hope you cannot even think
Of half you're thankful for.
I hope your table holds a wealth
Of prime Thanksgiving fare,
And Love and Peace and Joy and Health
Will all be seated there.
I trust your guests will all be bright,
But none of them too wise.
And each will bring an appetite
For mince or pumpkin pies.
I hope the fowls will all be fate.
The cider sweet to quaff.
And when you snap a wishbone, that
You'll win the larger half!
Poet: Unknown
There is no heart so bleak and bare
But heaven has sent some blessing there;
No table, e're so sparsely spread,
But that a grace should there be said.
No life but knows some moment blest.
Of sweet contentment and of rest;
No heart so cold but heaven above
Hath touched it with the warmth of love.
For those who suffer and endure
There is God's mercy ever sure,
And patience wins a fairer crown
Than wordly honor or renown.
Not in the mansion reared in pride
Doth happiness alone abide,
For oft the place knoweth not
The joy that bless a humble cot.
So count your blessings, one by one,
At early morn and set of sun,
And, like an incense, to the skies
Your prayers of thankfulness shall rise.
Look for the love that heaven sends,
The good that every soul intends.
Thus you will learn the only way
To keep a true Thanksgiving day.
Thanksgiving Verses In The Bible
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
Thanksgiving, a time of delight,
To thank God for blessings so bright.
With gratitude our hearts ignite,
For all His gifts that shine so tight.
Oh, the joy this season brings,
When our voice in chorus sings.
Excitedly we praise with zest,
God's love and favors, we're blessed!
Related: Thanksgiving Blessings
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Thanksgiving Poems Page 2
Explore a diverse collection of Thanksgiving poems in this section.- The Boy's Thanksgiving Day
- Going To Grandmother's
- On This Happy Feast-Day
- Thanksgiving For Harvest
- Again The Rounded Year
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Thanksgiving Poems Page 3
Discover more Thanksgiving poems that capture the spirit of gratitude.- Thanksgiving Day
- A Day For Reflection
- A Call to Worship
- Thanksgiving Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Thanksgiving Chorus
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