Thanksgiving 1896
by Joaquin Miller
hank God for high, white holy Truth,- To feed the world instead of sham;
- Lo, laden, patient, lowly Ruth!
- Lo, Abram's sacrificial ram!
- Thank God for Abram's faith of old;
- Thank God for man's faith in God's plan.
- But thank God most-and manifold
- For man's great, growing faith in man.
- As rounding eagles rise and rise!
- The darkest hour ushers dawn,
- And dawn is dashing up the skies!
- Thank God for light, God's face is light;
- The light of Truth, of faith in kind —
- The light of Love, the light of Right,
- The blind no more may lead the blind!
- Just Truth and Faith and steady Light,
- And mad sensation is no more;
- The fakir folds his tent of night
- And finds his dim Plutolnian shore.
- The people live, the people love,
- The people are once more divine:
- Put forth thy hand, receive the dove,
- Descend and taste the corn and wine.
- Thank God so much for laden Ruth,
- For plenty poured from pole to pole;
- But thank God most for Faith and Truth,
- For meats that feed the famished soul:
- For light wherewith to know to feed,
- For Light, for God's face far and near;
- For love that knows not lust nor greed,
- For faith that calmly smiles at fear.