WHEN IT'S THANKSGIVING


  To be thankful on such a day, as we awake 
  To peace in our homes,

  A warm fire in the morning, coffee, and 
  Possibly the paper to read.

   A parade is tradition each year in many 
   Places, turkey in the oven,

  Today will be most special as family will 
  Gather in places everywhere.

  A table with a feast, set to celebrate this 
  Occasion that began so far back,

  Different foods are shared throughout the 
  Land, favorites prepared.

  Ham, cranberry saucs, pumpkin pie, as well 
  As many other treats,

  A chance to get re-acquainted with family 
  And friends so long missed.

  When it's Thanksgiving there is another side 
  To the day, sad I'll say,

  Can we pray for the many homeless families, 
  Their stories we do not know.

  We can wish them well, but they need a helping 
  Hand to lift them up,

  To the soldiers out there away from family, 
  Wishing they were home safe,

   Let's remember, and think about them on this 
   Day, are they okay.

                 Keith Garrett

                      THANKSGIVING MEMORIES,

                                 AND YOU, MOM

  Thinking back to many celebrations on a fall day,

  I don't recall those early life, turkey festivities

  Although many memories are gone with my mom,

  There are a few great memories and thoughts of
  My own.
  I think back to a time when I was young, ten I 
  Believe,
  Yorba Linda was the scene, a family of many, back 
  In a dream.
  Living in Yorba Linda, nineteen seventy-two, 
  thanksgiving day,
  Cool and windy is a memory of a time when family 
  Was together.
   Memories of you, mom, young and full of life in a 
  Yorba Linda town,
   Early was a morning when you were the first up, 
  Turkey in the oven.
  So much to prepare, we didn't realize how much 
  Work when we were young, 
  Thanksgiving memories, days and meals shared as 
  A Family, as a dream.
  Shadows and ghosts of children who once we were 
  Back in a town,
  Thoughts of a mother who did have a life, a family 
  Once upon a time.
  Time seems to pass by in a flash, we were there 
  And we are now,
  Thanksgiving memories, and you, mom, so many 
  With you in the kitchen.
  Kids running around, at times bothering you while 
  you were busy.
  I always go back to Yorba Linda in my mind, as it 
  was my favorite home,
   Holiday memories, you won't be here this year to 
  Make new ones with us.
   We hold onto all the special thoughts and times 
   We shared with you, mom,
   Thanksgiving will be a little more quiet without 
   Your laughter or voice,
  Memories of you and Thanksgiving too, from 
   Once a child,  I'll remember you
   Keith Garrett, your son.

                     ONCE ON THANKSGIVING


  It was close to four hundred years ago, 
  This Story,
                                                    
  They traveled far across the water for a 
  new life.

  These English settlers laned at Plymouth 
  Rock,

  The first Thanksgiving happened in sixteen 
  Twenty One.

  It was not your today sit down supper, much 
  Different,

  Not a turkey, no cranberry or mash potatoes, 
   A Different feast.

  They would not have survived if not for help 
   From The Wampanoag Indians,

  The Winters were very hard, Today we have it 
  Much Easier, To be thankful.

  The first Thanksgiving lasted three days, duck 
   Was a Main course,

  The Wampanoag's leader's name was Massasoit, 
  Once On Thanksgiving.
                                                   Keith Garrett

                          A NEW WORLD


   Chances taken, sacrifices made, as they set 
   Sail for hope and a new life,

  Far across the sea, battling hunger and disease, 
  They traveled a dream.

  Not always was this a happy ending as many 
  Ships Of the time were lost,

  Hundreds of years ago, families and friends, 
   Those Seeking a better life, took a chance.

  Massive ships set course for unknown places, 
  Praying to conquer the ocean's hostility,

  The world was a mysterious and unknown 
   Piece of Work, still not understood.

  It would take much courage, and a voyage  
  More Complicated and rougher than imagined,

   Plymouth Rock would one day be seen, a new 
   World, This would be a land of new things.

  There would be much sickness, hardship, and 
  Survival Would be most difficult,

  They would settle, and slowly get to understand 
   The    Ways of the indian people.

  The first Thanksgiving is not clear, and no way to 
  Know how it really was,

  A new world it was, for those whom were from 
  Another land, and wanted change,

  Here's to a new world, and to all the
  Thanksgivings Before, and today.
                        Keith Garrett

                     PEACEFUL THANKSGIVING


  Family, friends, and stranger's everywhere, it's two 
  Thousand and twenty five,

  To all of our family members who are not here this 
   Year, We think of them.

 Wherever they may be, in heaven or on far away 
  Missions To foreign lands,

  They may be where we don't ever want to be, and 
   We are Where they hope to be.

  To all those Thanksgiving memories with our relatives,
  Fathers and mothers,

  If we are so fortunate to spend this year with loved 
  Ones, Friends, and others, enjoy.

  A peaceful Thanksgiving, for just one day during this 
  Time Of turmoil in our world,

  Put away the guns, stop rioting in the streets, leave the 
  Anger behind, peace that we seek.

  A peaceful Thanksgiving, be with those whom may not
  Be Here on another day,

  love, life, and a piece of happiness, as our lives spin 
  Beyond What sorrow and pain we retain.
                                 Keith Garrett

      
        THANKSGIVING  EVERYWHERE

  I've been watching as Thanksgiving grows 
  Close Each year,

   There is a beauty, an ugliness that creeps in 
   with The season.

  Why is it that many stress, the look of it 
  appears On Their faces,

   Anger wanders about the streets as
   Happiness Does Not greet.

  Autumn does not guarantee a turkey, a 
  Home, or A clean day,

  A man's woes do not weaken and slip away 
  On a Holiday.

  Whether we are happy or sad, why can we 
  Not be glad for life?

  Thanksgiving everywhere, some who care 
   Even with Despair.

  We all have something to be thankful for,
   Grateful With a daily breath,

  Is it unfair when some don't care, pass 
  Them by With maybe a stare.

  It's easy to be thankful with more than 
  You need, Words seem easy,

  I saw a man sitting on a bench this day, a 
  Smile, and  Have a happy Thanksgiving.

  He was alone I could see, a hello, a five 
  Dollar bill that brought a tear and a smile 
  To me,
  Some passed him by as he was nothing 
  Without a Name, I remember his eyes,

  Thanksgiving everywhere, give a care, love 
  Need To be everywhere.

                                 Keith Garrett


                                                      


                                                           There is a beauty, an ugliness that creeps in with the season.


                                                         Why is it that many stress, the look of it appears on their faces,


                                                          Anger wanders about the streets as happiness does not greet.


                                                           Autumn does not guarantee a turkey, a home, or a clean day,


                                                               A man's woes do not weaken and slip away on a holiday.


                                                          Whether we are happy or sad why can we not be glad for life,


                                                          Thanksgiving everywhere, some who care even with despair.


                                                  We all have something to be thankful for, grateful with a daily breath,


                                                    Is it unfair when some don't care, pass them by with maybe a stare.


                                                    It's easy to be thankful with more than you need, words seem easy,


                                       I saw a man sitting on a bench this day, a smile and have a happy Thanksgiving,


                                 He was alone I could see, a hello, a five dollar bill that brough a tear and a smile to me.


                                          Some passed him by as he was nothing without a name, I remember his eyes,


                                                   Thanksgiving everywhere, give a care, love needs to be everywhere.


                                             Keith Garrett

                                   A FALL DAY 


  Morning is filled with a fog coming off the lake,


  A beautiful sight, chilly is the breeze, very early.


  Quiet is the way, a dream that i will have this day,


  Trees stand watching all around, their leaves upon 
  The ground.
 
  A beautiful scene the lake shows when soon the fog 
  Does clear,

  Everyone is still asleep on this Thanksgiving day, a fire 
  Burning.

  Chopped wood is what is needed to keep a home warm 
  On this holiday,

  On this Fall day we will share our lives in peace and love.


  I can hear the voices of children, awake now is the family,


  Relatives will arrive soon, wife is inside preparing a turkey,


  A Fall day in November, will there ever be one like it again?

                                                     Keith Garrett

     IT'S ALMOST THANKSGIVING


  This November has quite a bit of anger and stress,


 There is mistrust and a country becoming more 
  Divided.

  Crime and rioting is an everyday occurence in our 
  Nation and world,

  It's almost Thanksgiving in a land of hostility and 
  Resentment.

  As the holiday gets closer and the year's end closes in,
  We think,

  We all lose or gain something, struggles may be few 
  Or too much.

  At times in our own world, fighting for our own daily 
  Survival,

  You are fortunate, if on Thanksgiving there is a roof 
  Over your head.

  A bed in which you just came from, a warm fire and 
  some love.

  To wake in good health, at times taken for granted is 
  Precious,

 It's almost Thanksgiving, a little less anger,  a helping 
  Hand or smile.
                                                   Keith Garrett