High dispersion spectra of the high velocity star HD 39853 show that it is a slightly metal-poor ([Fe/H]=−0.5±0.1) giant of the old disk population, with exceptionally strong lithium lines. The abundance of Li, derived by synthetic spectra of the 6103.6 and 8126.4 Å lines, is log N(Li)=2.8±0.2. Abundances for the other observed elements are typical for mildly metal-poor giants: oxygen is slightly overabundant ([O/Fe]=+0.25±0.15); the C/N ratio is large (10±2); the 12C/13C ratio is small (6.6±1.2); and light elements (Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca and Ti) are enhanced with respect to Fe by about a factor of 2.5. Observed s-elements (Zr and La) are not overabundant. Finally, no variation in the radial velocity of the star were detected at a level of 1 Km s-1.