Give Thanks
by Marie Boules, Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School
Finalist, Years 7 – 8, performance poetry
Give thanks to all things.
Cherish the nature that surrounds our Earth —
Blossoming flowers, bright as day,
Tall trees that gently sway,
Breathing life into the air we share.
Ocean waves roar with pride,
Sunshine peeks from clouds that glide.
Grazie (Thank you in Italian), Nature.
Give thanks to all things.
Treasure the people who colour our lives,
Each moment a stroke of joy and light,
Memories that guide us through the night.
They lift us up when we are low,
Stay beside us as we grow.
In a world that may feel deep,
No hill’s too high, no path too steep —
When we walk with those we love.
Merci (Thank you in French), my loved ones.
Give thanks to all things.
Savour the gift of living here,
In a land so safe, so free,
Far from the wars the world must face.
Thank the Lord for Australia’s grace.
How I wish all could know this peace.
Xièxiè (Thank you in Chinese), Australia.
Give thanks to all things —
To nature, to people, to a life of peace.
Thank you.
Want to read more poems? Explore the other Years 7 – 8 finalists.