Thanksgiving by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem explores the themes of gratitude and nostalgia for a simpler time. It describes a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends, emphasizing the importance of togetherness and appreciation for life's simple pleasures. The speaker reflects on the passing of seasons and the fleeting nature of youth, but finds comfort in the enduring bonds of family and community.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1887 · Genre: Poetry, Inspirational, Philosophical · 279 words
First lines
Let us be thankful -- not only because / Since last our universal thanks were told / We have grown greater in the world's applause, / And fortune's newer smiles surpass the old --
But thankful for all things that come as alms / From out the open hand of Providence: -- / The winter clouds and storms -- -the summer calms -- / The sleepless dread -- the drowse of indolence.
Let us be thankful -- thankful for the prayers / Whose gracious answers were long, long delayed, / That they might fall upon us unawares, / And bless us, as in greater need, we prayed.
What this Textopian page supports
Thanksgiving is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1887 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Inspirational, Philosophical, Religious
- Length: 279 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Thanksgiving by James Whitcomb Riley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Inspirational — The themes focus on gratitude and appreciation, aiming to inspire and uplift the reader.
- Philosophical — The text reflects on existential themes such as providence, love, and the passage of time, encouraging deeper contemplation.
- Religious — The work references prayers and providence, suggesting a spiritual or religious undertone.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · Nostalgia · Family · Tradition · Gratitude · Autumn · Harvest · Rural Life · Simple Living · Childhood Memories · Sentimental Value