GRATITUDE
A tempest blew a rainbow in my face
so that I wanted to fall under the rain
to kiss the hands of the old woman to whom I gave my seat
to thank everyone for the fact that they exist
and at times even feel like smiling
I was grateful to young leaves that they were willing
to open up to the sun
to babies that they still
felt like coming into this world
to the old that they heroically
endure until the end
I was full of thanks
like a Sunday alms-box
I would have embraced death
if she’d stopped nearby
Gratitude is a scattered
homeless love
–ANNA KAMIEŃSKA, from Astonishments, Selected Poems, trans. Grażyna Drabik and David Curzon
A little Thanksgiving reflection–
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