A "thank you" can work true wonders. Once spoken, it lights up the eyes and brings a smile to the face. There are many occasions to express gratitude, and none of these moments should be missed, nor should any recipient be overlooked: whether it's the best friend or a loved one, a mother, dear God, or life itself, or even just a tiny thread, a button, or a simple stool. For - as the stories and poems gathered here show - gratitude not only brings joy to others but is also incredibly fulfilling for oneself. Featuring stories and poems by Peter Bichsel, Bertolt Brecht, Sarah Kirsch, Joachim Ringelnatz, Eva Strittmatter, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Zbigniew Herbert, Hermann Hesse, Christian Morgenstern, Amos Oz, Rainer Maria Rilke, Robert Walser, and many others.