Be Grateful To Everyone (Jfk) Poem by Bernedita Rosinha Pinto

Can money replace our gratefulness
for everything that others do to help us
for everything others do to provide for us
for everything others do to make our lives comfortable?

The nurse, the nanny, the milkman, the baker,
all move along in their way of duties to a child,
as child grows enjoying their care and services
his ignorance makes him unfamiliar to gratitude.

The home, the school, the teacher,
as a student learns, he acquires knowledge
as he educates himself, he forgets to be grateful
though he learns lessons in manners and attitude.

The mason, the brick maker, the kiln, the roof tiles
all arranged for shelter, but families never remember
to be grateful to all those who contributed
to make their home strong and secure.

The doctor, the hospital, the pharmacy,
as patient recovers, he walks out,
forgetting instantly to be grateful.

The farmer, the gardener, the vegetable vendor
at the marketplace, indulge in accumulating
and selling fruits and greens.

The butcher, the grocer, the fisherman
all provide their services to help survival
yet no one ever cares to show gratitude
towards their efforts.

The food, the kitchen, the dinner table
no gratitude is extended to the cook
who silently prepares the hot meals.

The tailor, the electrician, the plumber
all align their commitments and little wonders,
yet no one is ever thankful to them.

The actor, the singer, the theater,
as movie-goers purchase their tickets,
they never visualize a sense of gratitude
towards those entertainers.

As man keeps living, he engages services
of many people to survive,
and just like the canoe displaces water in the river
man uses money to displace his gratitude.

But as the ticking of time-clock of life always
keeps moving ahead and never reverts back,
be grateful everyday to all who help you to move along,
as they may never be there when you want to thank them.

Be grateful to keepers of justice,
to preachers and priests,
to your places of worship and to God
for in gratitude is divinity and reverence.