There’s a time in life that needs a resting space,
There’s a space in time that needs a quiet place,
There’s a dream in life that withstands blinding test,
There’s a time in dreams that requires peaceful rest.
CRITIQUE ( 2013 ) 2013/05/30
My sense of humor is so typically Gallic,
Simple sarcasm gently blended with Teutonic
Arrogance, however it appears to work well,
Or have I been deluding myself once again?
DATELINE: Hoboken, New Jersey, USA”OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES” ( 2013 )
May I share with you one of my favorite American poets, a man of versatility and ” exquisite ” sensitivity ? Born in 1809, he was a doctor during the Civil War and the father of a Union Soldier who served 30 years as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Oliver Wendell Holmes ( the younger ). The senior Holmes wrote volumes including ” The Last Leaf”, ” Old Ironsides ” and the creme de la creme, ” The Chambered Nautilus “. Who can forget “Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul,” concluding with ” Leaving thine outgrown shell by life’s unresting sea! “? Father and son, men of honor, confirming an old adage ” the apple doesn’t fall far from the apple tree “. Please take the time to research and perhaps ” find ” another hero!
Sincerely,
Claire B.
THE COLORS ( 2013 ) 2013/05/29
Her colors flying proud and straight up high
So like some banner stretched across the sky
Within the fields of stars marching around
Intent upon one purpose to surround,
Display broad stripes of white and red so bold
Their legend in each battle will be told
Instilling courage with pure lack of fear
While in the corner of one’s eye, a tear
Soon gathers gently on the summer winds,
Its now the need for greater strength begins!
IN MEMORY OF ( 2013 ) 2013/05/28
The life I knew that now has flown
Into the clutch of bleak unknown
And left me here to query why
All that I loved did bid goodbye
Without a nod or brief farewell
To ease the pain wherein I dwell.
Thus force my heart to comprehend
I can’t control each journey’s end
Although convinced I thought I could
I realized I never would.
CONTINUITY ( 1970 ) 2013/05/26
Oh, still and peaceful starlit night,
With not a whispered breeze in sight,
Those rustic arms that reach too bare,
Oblique, into the sky now stare,
And seeming wait, for some small gift
Falling from space and earthward drift.
Now stark and graceless awkward tree
Like autumn wind reminding me
Years fall one upon another,
Swiftly reason to discover,
These arms that long to grasp and lift
Embrace the wind cast time adrift.
Thus ageless trees with patience stand
Their vast retinue in command,
Through darkest night or brightest morn,
This faceless wonder earth adorn.
INTROSPECTION ( 1979 ) 2013/05/25
As I ponder those emotions past with feeling
Unto my thoughts a certain wisdom appealing,
It’s the sentiment I recall though not the love
Which fleeting time did somehow wither lust above,
Wherefore have I been, what lucid thoughts have I held
The pressing loss that truth indeed for lack compelled,
The stress did seem unreal and reason query why,
An ending to my passion, for this need imply.
Our lifespan covers a limited time, ought more,
And wanton waste, the seasons of our life deplore,
There are nought other worlds to conquer in our quest
To seek, enjoy, fulfill and leave behind the rest
Hence, can we not to live content with who we are,
For love as such, may curry favor near or far.
LUNATION ( 1969 )
Thou mournful moon that shines so distant clear with innocence,
Belies a history that cradled weeds of decadence
Yet glows with ancient tales of lords and kings and mighty things,
An eloquence which speaks through space and time forbearance brings
And moves the mind to dwell on deeds and wisdom circumspect,
Now seeing not believing, this strange power shall wills direct.
Night sister to the sun, the sailor’s tool that bares the soul
Though man may probe this parent to the tides exceeds control.
Thus mighty force indulging man’s wildest inclination
Give credence to a thought that consumes with dedication,
And here one learns through willful ignorance to tine the test,
That orb which swells with deep intensity, observes the rest,
Abounds with manifold myths and legends no time destroys
And in its strength doth twist and blend both countless tears and joys.
SAILS ( 1982 )
In the distance I can spy
Colored sails against the sky
Rainbowed hues so bright and clear
Seeming far, yet very near.
Small triangles in the breeze
Guileless gliding on blue seas.
Some that turn from north to west
Others skimming on the crest,
Masts so tall, they groan and sigh,
I can see their pennants fly.
Brave little craft beckons me
To a life that’s bold and free
In the harbor or adrift
Let me share your journey swift,
Cast upon the water’s wave
To become your fearless slave.
BIG LITTLE MEN ( 1959 )
My little men are playing hard
their jumbled shrieks of glee
Will prove an ever constant source
of wonderment to me.
It is not meet that we should know
of all the words they speak
For half the joy of their long day
are secrets they need keep.
And in their world of little men
where adults cannot be
All men are brave and strong and good
in faith, they’re not yet three.
ON GRADUATION DAY ( 1945 ) 2013/05/24
Out of the stillness of the hour
It seems to me that
I can hear the crying
Of the quiet times
That still must be… now dying.
Where laughter once
Full filled the halls with glee
There is but only a dream
Reminding me.
Would that I might achieve
That day of youth’s bright joy
Would that I might retain
For everyday this buoyancy of living
Somehow I’ve outgrown that joy.
Will I relive it ever?
Listening close
I hear the answer echoing
Throughout the silent halls,
It seems to whisper . . . “Never”.
LANDSCAPE ( 1987 )
A rocky wall, a crumbling fence
A dried-up brook, a withered vine
A fallen bough held in suspense
That rests upon a clementine,
Unkempt yew side a tumbled post
A grim reminder of neglect
While lamp to spider’s web played host
Its use long past one would suspect.
This sentry by a garden gate
With primrose path and weeds profuse
Makes statement that fair shouts “Ingrate”,
To focus thought on life’s abuse.
We’ve seen the waste misfortune brings
And many styles that pruning need
Applied not just to vernal things
All spreading hopes crave care to breed.
TIMING (1968 ) 2013/05/23
When I have watched ten thousand clouds pass
overhead and seen
Them pass again this way no more in
splendor’s show serene,
When I have held the dearest heart close
to my breast once more
And known a love without a fear I
never knew before,
When I have filled my wildest dreams and
spent my sweetest day,
When there is nothing left to learn and
nothing left to say,
When all of time continues on as
if it faced no end
And I have told my last farewell to
lover and to friend,
When all my tears and hopes are gone and
life wills no delay
Then may I close my eyes in sleep and
blow my breath away.
DARK SHADOWS ( 2001 ) 2013/05/22
The shadows dark do cloud my mind
And as a serpent slowly wind
Into a river rife with fear
Where floats one vision most unclear,
Too strange that as I wend my way
My feet seem slow and mired in clay.
From dusk till dawn these shadows keep
My restless self foreign to sleep,
Then with the wakeful hours of morn
My eyelids shut in careless scorn
Upon this world which might just be
A lesson in civility.
DATELINE: Hoboken, New Jersey, USA” HOBOKENITES ” ( 2013 ) 2013/05/21
Did you know that besides Frank Sinatra, Hoboken was home to Stephen Foster AND Edgar Allan Poe? Lillian Russell was married here in the 1800’s, and my family arrived from Germany in 1846. My grandpa George Eugene Sipple played for the Knickerbocker baseball team. Remember this town is only one mile square! Can you imagine? So much history!
Sincerely,
Claire B.
PEACE ( 2013 )
I don’t know what you are thinking
And if it affects my life
Only God knows where your heart is
If it’s filled with peace or strife.
I can pray that you’ll remember
To uplift and aid the weak
Most are the Lord’s helpless children
Lacking voice to beg or speak.
In this life we are mistaken
To believe we’re all alone
No one knows our destination
Is the path of grass or stone?
I can wait another lifetime
Hoping soon to find release
In pursuit of God and wisdom
Seeking His eternal peace.
DATELINE : Hoboken, New Jersey, USA ” HERO ” ( 2013 )
Am I correct in believing that Brokaw called my era the “ Greatest Generation” ? ( My mother bought me that book.) I spent more than 76 years of my life in “ incredibly “ close proximity to my mom, she was my “hero” ! I miss her everyday and live by the simple rules she valued. In German it was : Kirche, Kinder, Kochin, “loosely” translated into … God, family, duty ! Not a bad goal.
Sincerely,
Claire B.
LOVE ( 2013 )
I’m mesmerized by falling rain
It splatters on my window pane
And sings a tune I need to hear
It sounds like music on my ear,
It means my garden now can thrive
And soon God’s blessings will arrive.
You cannot know the joy I feel
Or how much ache this show will heal,
The beauty that a garden brings
With scented breath on fragile wings,
In truth this vision states somehow
God loves me, thats enough for now!
ANTICIPATION ( 1983 ) 2013/05/20
A wretched mass we lonely be
We draw our lots of destiny
And fearful though our days may seem
We’ll not forsake the growing dream
That time has furrowed on our brow
And hope can only but allow
To breathe and swell within our soul
And make it seem but one more goal
For man to grasp the will to live
And every moment courage give.
The wind blows wild across the plain
Another soul to seek acclaim
Like shipwrecks shoaled on foreign shore
Their voices raised, God’s grace implore.
As trees their arms do upward sway
The whole world kneels , her prayer to say
Where ancient Moorish castles rise
Their towers reaching for the skies.
This prayer of man that heaven sent
Begs only for his heart’s content,
Bold edifice of legendry
Now stirs the soul to poetry
And wills the weak to stronger be
And make fast friends of you and me.
HYPOTHESIS ( 1977 ) 2013/05/19
Oh, foolish dreamer, you lonely child,
They gave you a hope, and you ran wild
In fields of joy and gardens of laughter,
Simple girl, you forgot what comes after
The rain of a late summer’s discontent,
However much meaningful or well meant
He will return to the world of his past,
Deserting you first, remembering last
That you held his hand through the troubled days
And you kissed his tears, through your misted gaze,
But in their flight, most men are little boys,
And gentle girls become discarded toys.
THE CLOWN ( 1946 ) 2013/05/18
Ah, Pierrot, what pale tear doth rest upon thy cheek
And lingers there while thou hast not the tongue to speak
To quell this agony within thy breast that swells
Not either strength to leave nor voice to thy love tell?
Hence thou dost act each night a role that hath no end
To veil thy life without one lover or one friend.
T’would be the love for whom you’ve pined yet been denied
Dost sense not hour , day nor year through which thou hast cried.
Thus as this force continued on in weary grief
Thou garnered not the halting grace it must to leave.
But made thyself a servant silent to her will
And like some mindless fool forever loved her still.
ENGLAND ( 1950 )
This delicate jewel that reigns across the sea
Still clouded by the mist and slightly faded shade
Rules with repute amid fame of greater glory
While the events of years her impotence betrayed.
Basking in the shadow of one bright diadem
Views stolen from another end of the rainbow
Lending character to this aged waning gem
That here exists with honor and respect in tow.
Noble crescent from whence came seeds of our beginnings
Once hidden by the tiresome toss and chance of time
In retrospect with pride that contemplation brings
See truth and in that single act, dower confine.
SUNDOWN ( 1949 )
The tide has gone, how cool the night
It’s ebb has passed, now dims the light
Drift wood alone remains for me
The single task which must now be
To build again this life to share
With splintered fragments of repair.
Lost memories like shattered dreams
Fill water into running streams
Receding tides, crumbling castles
Consuming waves leave only ashes.
HOLLOW ( 1949 ) 2013/05/17
A star has brushed my heart
and left it maime
A wind rushed past my ear
whis’pring you name.
FAITH ( 2013 )
I’d gather up the courage to stand so very tall
And pray that God would be there to catch me if I fall,
And if I can’t remember exactly every word
I’m sure that He will see my unspoken thoughts are heard.
Just a thought ……
Can it be that our dreams
are but the musings of angels
softly whispered whilst we sleep?
LEGACY ( 2006 )
If today should be my last to keep
I’d deed to you, before I sleep
Those treasures which I’ll leave behind
To seek the rest that I will find.
There are these gifts to give away,
One is the peace youth will delay.
While I have many dreams to share
I also have some love to spare,
I’d pledge that love to fill your heart
Next to the wish your fears depart.
I’d bid you learn to live like me,
With courage, truth and dignity.
If this day were my last to spend
I’d will to you before its end,
The glow of joy and calm of mind
That through our destinies must wind,
And pray then as we say goodbye
There will be ventures you will try,
Perhaps a mountain you will dare
Because your future may be there
And if you fail, shed not a tear,
I leave you cause and faith sincere.
I can but beg your grief will see
The wisdom in my legacy.
OUTGROWN ( 1979 ) 2013/05/16
What is there above stripped limbs that I can spy
Wedged between those spiny arms that reach too high?
One browned and muddy shelter grown obsolete
That time ago, to some bird, was world complete,
With its leafy covert fallen to the ground
Where it lies in lifeless and decaying mound.
Now empty and deserted this wasting nest
That in prime, to brooding chicks gave healthy rest.
Poor lonely home of use no more, bleak and bare,
Lost legacy of one transient flying pair
Struggling in that tangled sea of life’s morass.
Thus observed, swiftly it is, through age we pass,
To leave behind this remnant of what had been
Some message of deep concern to kith and kin.
Consider lessons now sealed within those walls,
In its girth, did gift the heart and cushion falls.
Then build our nests for each youth, both sleek and trim,
Though we guide them well, the rest is left to Him.
Claire V. Bogdanos 