For the past 20 years, BOA poet Michael Blumenthal (AND, 2009), has written a "Thanksgiving/Christmas/Chanukah/New Year's poem" which he sends to friends and family. This year, Michael has graciously allowed us to post the poem and share it with all of you - our BOA friends and family. So here is "Be Kind" by Michael Blumenthal. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you from all of us. Be Kind Not merely because Henry James said there were but four rules of life— be kind be kind be kind be kind—but because it’s good for the soul, and, what’s more, for others, it may be that kindness is our best audition for a worthier world, and, despite the vagueness and uncertainty of its recompense, a bird may yet wander into a bush before our very houses, gratitude may not manifest itself in deeds entirely equal to our own, but there’s still weather arriving from every direction, the feasts of famine and feasts of plenty may yet prove to be one, so why not allow the little benevolent squinches and squigulas to prevail? Why not inundate the particular world with minute particulars? Dust’s certainly all of our fate, but why not make it the happiest possible dust, a detritus of blessedness? Surely the hedgehog, furling and unfurling into its spiked little ball, knows something that, with a gentle touch and unthreatening tone, can inure to our benefit, surely the wicked witches of our childhood have died and, from where they are buried, a great kindness has eclipsed their misdeeds. Yes, of course, in the end so much comes down to privilege and its various penumbras, but too much of our unruly animus has already been wasted on reprisals, too much of the unblessed air is filled with smoke from undignified fires. Oh friends, take whatever kindness you can find and be profligate in its expenditure: It will not drain your limited resources, I assure you, it will not leave you vulnerable and unfurled, with only your sweet little claws to defend yourselves, your wet little noses, your eyes to the ground, and your little feet. [caption id="attachment_183" align="aligncenter" width="107" caption="Michael Blumenthal. BOA Poet."][/caption]