All Roads Lead to Home
By Mark Miner, 11-22-06
Though bleary eyed and sorely tried,
the driven, dogged millions drive
for hours on end, or else they fly,
and wing a streak across the sky,
a lance of smoke that shows the way
to loved ones, homes, or what-you-may.
Where, thankful to be there at last,
the journey finished, travail past,
they rendezvous with whom-they-will
and settle in to share a meal.
And not just food, but hopes and dreams
and news and stories, views and schemes,
and talk and talk and savor well
the fellowship, and for a spell
forget, perhaps, that Monday brings
the cark and care and other things
that dim our eyes and cloud our thoughts
with what needs done and what needs bought.
We fill our minds from toe to crown
with wants and worries, it weighs down
so heavy at this time of year.
Stop. Step back. Begin to peer
into the blessings at your door.
sweet life and breath, and many more.
Need I remind you, reader, friend,
the God of heaven knows your end,
he knows your goings out and in,
and knows before the day begins.
This God has given you all things
that appertain to you, and brings
you good (deserved or otherwise).
Once more today the sun did rise,
the moon will change and alter tide,
the seas, the air are purified
by rain he sends, the earth grows green,
the streams and rivers sweep and clean,
and though we never lift our eyes,
the stars bespangle sable skies.
So, man or woman, boy or girl,
should not these bounties which unfurl
before our slitted, squinted sight
cause us to beam and think aright?
Should not we shake our sullen form,
and note, from galaxy to worm,
the marvels that we daily see?
Let thought drift to eternity,
and wonder how it all began
and how we stand today, a man
hemmed in by all of life's good things.
Remember that tomorrow brings
a day to give our thanks to God,
a day which, howsoever flawed,
might be the first day that we start
to spend our lives with thankful heart.
