Reena’s Xploration Challenge #409

Posted on by Reena Saxena

Wish you all a peaceful Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends!

SHOUT-OUTS

Thanks to all my friends here for being a blessing to creativity and collaboration!

The special mentions this week are

Jude Itakali for creating magic on a single page with his mash-ups. We miss you when you are not around.

Suzette B. for introducing me to new realms of thought!

Carol Anne for being a symbol of courage in overcoming her health challenges. The same goes to

Shaun, I’m glad to see what AI says about you.

The term “tenzenmen” refers to a poet named Shaun Tenzenmen, known for his impactful poetry that often explores themes of language, meaning, and the human experience.

Dennis Johnstone for documenting his challenges with a creative flair.

PROMPT #409

Write a story, poem, or reflection where the act of giving thanks is tied to resilience, protest, or moral strength. Explore the paradox of refusing to be grateful to the ungrateful: those who exploit, silence, or dismiss others. Instead, celebrate gratitude as a weapon of dignity—thankfulness for the voices that rise, the hands that resist, and the hearts that refuse to bow. How does gratitude transform when it becomes an act of defiance?”

Langston Hughes says,

“That all these walls oppression builds
Will have to go!
I want freedom,
Just as you.”

Maya Angelou in “Still I Rise.”

“You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.”

You can frame it in different directions:

  • Poetic angle: A Thanksgiving table where gratitude is spoken not for abundance, but for the courage to say “no.”
  • Narrative angle: A character who refuses to thank those who oppress them, instead finding gratitude in solidarity with others.
  • Philosophical angle: A meditation on gratitude as resistance, where silence toward the ungrateful is itself a form of justice.

You are free to take it in any other direction.

There is no restriction on the length or format of the piece. There is no last date unless you wish to be featured in the Weekly Wrap.

We will not include any posts that are found to be offensive, vulgar or hurt ordinary sensibilities. This needs to be a safe space.

Create a post on your blog and copy-paste the link in the Comments. If you use a pingback, check to see if it has worked. I have come across cases where the pingback did not work, and I missed including the piece in the Weekly Wrap.

WEEKLY WRAP

Susan St. Pierre

Jim Adams

Susi Bocks

Diana Coombes

Jules Paige

Sadje

David

Rohini

Eugenia

Ange (AJ Wilson)

Carol Anne

Suzette B.

Sarah

Destiny

Michelle Navajas

Indira

47 thoughts on “Reena’s Xploration Challenge #409”

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