Summary: The Cartwright clan express their love and gratitude for each other and for the land.

Rated G   Wordcount: 375

Among the pines rooted deep in the earth kissed divine,

By the Sun’s golden ore the swaying grass was caressed,

The Sky stretched forth miles of wealth like ethereal brine,

While four rode out to guard what was their family quest.

Ben stood proud and strong without a glint of guile,

The land fragranced by a western wind that owned his affection

He looked upon as a father would upon his son’s newborn smile,

He prayed “may my family always live here without affliction.”

His eldest son, Adam had the purest soul shining from his eyes,

His muscular build clad in black smoldered, his presence no one could ignore,

A beacon of goodness and light he stood under a sparkling blue Sky,

Ever by his father’s side he guarded Ponderosa’s welcoming door.

A man of song and poetry, Adam’s gratitude for the land blew like the breeze,

A tender love ballad of Thanksgiving understood even by the trees,

He knew he would always be here standing strong, never weak in the knees,

He prayed “may love always live here as bountiful as the leaves.”

The middle son was the biggest man but gentle from birth,

Hoss was loving and tender and never one to be held down,

He stood by his family and fought with his heart’s worth,

He was the bonny friend you would want always around.

Among Sun and Shade he grew with the land he loved so young,

Its wild ways, its wonder and wealth he vowed to share, always blessed

His homeland sheds the lure and lush of a life never gone,

Hoss prays “may our hard-wrought days always end in rest.”

The youngest son was an imp with a sparkle lighting his smile true,

Mischief was the magic Little Joe wielded to enamor with his youthful share,

Who could not be charmed by this boy’s wits I ask you,

Even from his lips he prays “please keep our home safe and ever fair.”

Among the Ponderosa Pines and thundering steeds they’d never forsake,

These four men rode and fought as one, they had no need to roam,

They belonged to this land with the warm rushing Tahoe Lake,

Their hearts were a bounty of Thanksgiving for this, their forever home.