A Feast for the Ears: Poetry on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day usually means taking it easy after a hard day of stuffing ourselves with turkey and pumpkin pie. It’s easy to forget the “thanks,” or for that matter, be aware of what we should be thankful for.

“Thanksgiving celebrates nourishing the body, but it is an important opportunity for emotional nourishment as well,” says best-selling poet and author Susan Polis Schutz.

Schutz, who has written 11 books and whose latest book is “Love” (Blue Mountain Arts, $15.95; available in paperback, Warner Books, in January), suggests poetry as a way to bring people together.

“Many people don’t know how to communicate emotionally, or feel uncomfortable telling others they care, out loud,” she said. “A special ceremony on an appropriate day like Thanksgiving can give people ‘permission’ to try. A simple, effective way is through poetry.” Schutz suggested these “tips for improving your Thanksgiving”:

* Have your guests write or bring a poem that expresses their love and gratitude for family and friends. Hold a poetry reading. Afterward, take photographs of your guests and place their poems next to their pictures in an album.

* Have each guest write or bring a poem addressed to another guest. Put the poems at the place settings instead of name cards.

* Create a special toast that goes beyond the usual “thanks for friends, family and food.”