How Humans Learned to Give Thanks

author's note:

Though alone this year, I'm determined to have a happy Thanksgiving.  May you have a happy Thanksgiving too.


HOW HUMANS LEARNED TO GIVE THANKS

Because the first human
was as he was
he ordered the sky
and the oceans
and the rich soil
to give of themselves
so he could live

and they said:

"We are quite mighty
  while he is quite weak
  so we should sacrifice
  to provide what he needs.”

And because the man was as he was
he told the plants and trees
to give of themselves--
he told the lakes and rivers
he told the many creatures

and they said:

“We are quite strong
  and he is quite weak
  so we should sacrifice
  to provide what he needs.”

Unfortunately
because the man was as he was
he just kept taking
without healing the wounds he’d given
to the sky, to the soil, to the many waters--
to the flora, to the fauna

and so that life collapsed from its wounds
and as a result, the man also collapsed.

But then
the man could no longer wound
so the Earth was able
to heal even its worst hurts.

And so
after an agony lasting forty nights
the life of the Earth rose again

which had the effect
of lifting that man back to his feet.

Fortunately
being down on the ground
had changed his point-of-view--
now he sang a different tune:

"Because I am quite small,
  because I am quite weak
  the life of this Earth
  sacrifices for my sake.

"But as I take
  I must give back--
  otherwise

  I am a dead man!”

Since then we humans
are not as we once were--
now, we thank the Earth
for gifts given
and heal that which we wound.

This myth...a story from our future.

© 2019, Michael R. Patton
40 New Fables: ebook