Public-domain source text

Gratitude

by Henry van Dyke Jr.

From Standard Ebooks · standardebooks/henry-van-dyke-jr_poetry

“Do you give thanks for this?⁠—or that?” No, God be thanked I am not grateful In that cold, calculating way, with blessings ranked As one, two, three, and four⁠—that would be hateful.
I only know that every day brings good above My poor deserving; I only feel that in the road of Life true Love Is leading me along and never swerving.
Whatever gifts and mercies to my lot may fall, I would not measure As worth a certain price in praise, or great or small; But take and use them all with simple pleasure.
For when we gladly eat our daily bread, we bless The Hand that feeds us; And when we tread the road of Life in cheerfulness, Our very heart-beats praise the Love that leads us.

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This is a source transcription from Standard Ebooks, published in Past Poetry’s public-domain archive without line-by-line editorial notes. Public-domain source edition. Availability can vary by territory.

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