(1932 - / New York / United States)

poet Linda Pastan
#201 on top 500 poets
What do you think this poem is about?

Home For Thanksgiving

The gathering family
throws shadows around us,
it is the late afternoon
Of the family.

There is still enough light
to see all the way back,
but at the windows
that light is wasting away.

Soon we will be nothing
but silhouettes: the sons'
as harsh
as the fathers'.

Soon the daughters
will take off their aprons
as trees take off their leaves
for winter.

Let us eat quickly--
let us fill ourselves up.
the covers of the album are closing
behind us.

Submitted: Monday, January 13, 2003


Read poems about / on: family, winter, light, home, daughter, father, son, tree

Comments about this poem (Home For Thanksgiving by Linda Pastan )

Enter the verification code :

  • Jim Foulk (4/8/2007 2:09:00 PM)

    my wife came from a large family, and grand ma had 11 kids and their way 6 in my family, so i can relate to this wonderful piece of poetry, the only thing i have read 3 of your poems so far, all a ten, but some one out there is giving you a low rating, do may no attention to that, your are a fine poet.

    0 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • john tiong chunghoo (9/29/2006 12:10:00 AM)

    i can relate as i come from a large family. good one linda.

    0 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • Gina Onyemaechi (2/17/2006 1:28:00 PM)

    Hey Lind, you sure know how to kill a girl's mood, don't you? : -) Your imagery is second to none. Life is sad as you say here, Lind, which is why it's important, in my view, to show it your middle finger and enjoy love while you've got it. Warmly, Gina.

    0 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • Scarlett Treat (2/8/2006 8:03:00 AM)

    What a terribly frigntening picture of life/death, inside/outside, summer/winter. I feel the chill of the falling leaves, and, having lost loved ones, I felt the albumn pages close around me.

    0 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • Cj Heck (2/2/2006 9:22:00 PM)

    'The gathering family
    throws shadows around us, ...' Excellent poem. I enjoy how you paint pictures with words, Linda.
    My warmest regards,
    CJ

    0 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
Read all 5 comments »

People who read Linda Pastan also read

Top 500 Poems

  1. Phenomenal Woman
    Maya Angelou
  2. The Road Not Taken
    Robert Frost
  3. Still I Rise
    Maya Angelou
  4. If You Forget Me
    Pablo Neruda
  5. Dreams
    Langston Hughes
  6. Annabel Lee
    Edgar Allan Poe
  7. If
    Rudyard Kipling
  8. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
    Robert Frost
  9. A Dream Within A Dream
    Edgar Allan Poe
  10. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
    Maya Angelou
The Complete List of Top 500 Poems »
[Hata Bildir]