——— Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle - kinshipcircle [at] brick.net
Date: Nov 23, 2006 4:17 PM
Subject: Today, I Give Thanks…

Permission to cross-post

11/23/06: Today, I Give Thanks…
From Kinship Circle
www.KinshipCircle.org

By Brenda Shoss

Today I give thanks for each faceless victim pulled from dark waters…

For fluids and needles poked through paper skin.
For infinite food left in forgotten cities…
And the glimmer of foil pans filled with water.
For recognition of life in vacant eyes.
Love revisited…
And the promise of a warm lap.
Today I give thanks to rescuers
And recall untold mercy, selfless and vast.

Today I give thanks to those who inhabit my home…

One born in a puppy mill
Another dumped on a road
A kitten retrieved from floodwaters
And a cat claimed from death row.
For bottomless love…
Left in whispers upon my face
Wound around arms and legs
Sloshed in wet kisses
Asleep at my feet.

Today I give thanks for the blessed few among billions…

Freed from sunless warehouses
To flutter a wing
Stretch a leg
And peck warm dirt
Curious eyes over blunt, severed beaks
Once factory-farm trash,
Now someone’s treasure.

Today I give thanks for a world…

Where laws can change,
Views transform…
And hope rebounds in the eyes of an animal.
Where tumult, pain, joy, courage and stamina
speak inside a single creature’s eyes…
Crushing indifference
Rousing nameless deaths
And stirring empathy
Where there once was none.

Today, I give thanks for miracles…

Born in a son
Who is compassion and light.
Innocence unearthed,
With no distinction between animals on a leash,
in a stall, a lab or a cage.

For his love of “effa-lants”
And creepy-crawlers…
For ordering the birds to spare the worms…
And simply asking,
“Mommy, why do some people hurt animals?”

And I give thanks everyday, for each one of you…

Passionate
Obsessive
Unyielding
Devoted
Brilliant
Creative
Forgiving
Patient
Merciful…

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In unity with animals,
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Brenda Shoss, Kinship Circle

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Tagged: animals animal+rights kinship+circle thanks thanksgiving brenda+shoss