The following poem was written more than a year ago. It belongs to a much larger discursive manifesto of thanks by the same title which is not yet published. Our perpetual prayer for you is that your life together with ours will become one continual feast on all that is wholesome, healthy, holy, and that you will be crowned with rejoicing, laughter, and gladness in the world to come, when heaven sets down on earth like a robust thanksgiving meal. We definitely don’t wish on you the life of a monk after the order of the Catholic / “Orthodox” Pachomius who is the father of all monastic orders, because he banned laughter at meal time.
“An old squaw and a captive,
if any present,
must stand without the wigwam,
shaking their hands and bodies
as in a dance,
and singing,
‘WEGAGE OH NELO WOH,’
which in English is,
‘Fat is my eating.’
This is to signify their
thankfulness
in feasting times.
When one supply was spent
we fasted
till further success.”
–John Gyles, Esq.–
“Memoirs Of Odd Adventures,
Strange Deliverances, Etc.,
In The Captivity Of John Gyles, Esq.,
Commander Of The Garrison
On St. George River,
In The District Of Maine”
(1736),
quoted in
–Samuel G. Drake–
TRAGEDIES OF THE WILDERNESS
(1844).
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O cosmic cornucopia!
The Lord’s abundance overflowing!
Morons and dunces don’t see Yah.
Cursed ignorance is growing.
But Puritans plan
to tend the land.
Good seed is what they’re sowing.
Time’s short for the self-swallowed snake!
Scarcity & overproduction:
Using both he intends to break
souls lured by his seduction.
With thunderbolts
of mass revolts
comes cruel wealth’s destruction!
But the heavens militate
against the mad, atheistical,
meaningless, anti-purpose hate
for profound and mystical
cosmic order!
God’s no hoarder!
The heavenly host is a gift.
It wars against the world’s unbelief.
Between God and man there’s a rift
but soldier stars bring relief.
Light the sun gives.
Earth takes and lives.
Ecosystem of belief !
Alas! Deserts and lush islands!
Woe! Greed, laziness, envy, and scorn!
Arise, New Puritans of all lands!
Worship with works, burdens borne!
Give and take grace.
See your Lord’s face
in needy brothers forlorn.
Like the Pilgrims –faced with long drought–
humbly repented, prayed, and did fast
till they won soul and stomach’s bout,
likewise our cares must be cast
on our great Lord
of Jonah’s gourd,
minding ebenezer’s past.
Satan thinks his witches are rude
if they serve him without gratitude,
so New Puritans manifest
clean wise speech, not a coarse jest.
Among our ranks
rise songs of thanks!
Grace gives, takes, sings, and is blest!
O cosmic cornucopia!
____________________________________
“However joyless
and even ridiculous
the songs and dances
at the demons’ assemblies,
nevertheless the witches
on taking their departure
have to return
thanks
as if they had enjoyed
the greatest of pleasure.”
–Nicolas Remy–
Demonolatry:
An Account of
The Historical Practice of Witchcraft
Book I, ch. 19,
(1595).
NEW PURITAN 