Today is my mother’s hundredth birthday
Now how can that be, seems just yesterday
That we sat together to bid goodbye
In that quiet place you could hear a sigh.
A squeeze of the hand and a fond farewell
Are all I recall and all I can tell
Her smile was a gift and pleasant surprise
She was simple and kind, loving and wise.
How lucky was I to have her with me
She kept me grounded and prejudice free.
Miss you a bunch Mom, no matter how far
And wish you my love wherever you are.
CENTENNIAL ( 2013 ) 2013/07/20
FALLACY ( 2013 )
All of my life I have been told
There is no cure for growing old
It’s just the sum of all we’ve known
Of words we’ve said and deeds we’ve sown.
Tis sad to think we leave this race
About the time we find our pace
Without some help we can’t be sure
And so my dear seems there’s no cure
Except wherein we bid goodbye
When we’ve been told ’tis time to die.
Wild elephants just trudge the way
To where their tusks and bones do lay
Since we are sage and civilized
Our resting place is canonized.
MY OLD AUNT ROSE ( 2013 )
Such a cheerful face and a ready smile
She made my young life so much more worth while
And was always there when I craved advice
With a hug and a kiss not once but twice.
Rose arrived in July of ninety-five
Born just two pounds no one thought she’d survive
She surprised them all and was fine by spring
But never grew tall, just a tiny thing.
She raised five brothers and a niece or two
Looked after her dad and her mother too
She’d knit and crochet and even tat lace
That smile we all loved remained on her face.
Through her very long life she kept her cheer
Dear old Aunt Rose how I wish you were here!
Claire V. Bogdanos 