I’m not lonely, how can that be
Since there is no one here but me
I am my own good company !
I’m sure the Lord’s forever there
He always answers every prayer
And whisks away life’s dark despair !
I know His love is there to give
To teach each one how to forgive
And help us all our lives to live.
The lessons learned there at His feet
Become the goals we need complete,
Fulfill our hopes and futures greet !
In homage to my dear grandpa,
I know his grave’s not off too far
But going back won’t help at all
My memory is still enthralled
I was a girl of twenty-five
When grandpa he just up and died
With wrinkled face and gentle eyes
Too late for us to say goodbyes.
Who ever thought that I’d recall
Those yesteryears when I was small
When I was young I used to sit
On grandpa’s lap and rock a bit.
I can remember that old chair
It sat beside the fireplace there
Like some carved wooden rocking thing
With all the joy those mem’ries bring
And when my children were so small
That rocking chair could hold us all.
My grandpa built that rocking chair
With his own hands and love to spare
Now that was very long ago
The time has flown but this I know
All that I am or hoped to be
Are part of my heredity !
I am that simple grain of sand
Who tempest tossed waits His command
Sometimes I tire, impatient grown
Where is the fruit of seeds I’ve sown ?
How long must I endure this pain
And when may I relief obtain,
So many questions fill my mind
Where is this peace I yearn to find ?
A gentle voice I seem to hear
It whispers softly in my ear
“This God alone can truly know
He will be there whene’er you go !”
I search about this world I see
And find so much catastrophe
Life travels down this lonely road
That bares an extra heavy load.
We need some help along the way
If we expect to win the day
We need to dig so very deep
If we have dreams we plan to keep.
We’ll brush the cobwebs from our eyes
Increase our efforts, compromise
And do the job we know we can
As part of God’s great master plan !
A misty morn does greet my eyes
The snow capped rooftops seem surprised
White carpet covers everywhere
The streets appear all stark and bare
This bleak facade that I now see
Lies still in ice cold harmony.
A likely thought that comes to mind
As winter winds have grown unkind
It’s time to host a fireside chat
‘Bout pleasant themes or this and that
There cuddled up in some huge chair
With warm and happy thoughts to share !
A lonely man with head cast down
I saw him pass with puzzled frown
His shoulders hunched his step was slow
It seems he had nowhere to go.
I wonder what can be his grief
His burden’s great without relief
How weak the old appear to be
Bowed down by our society.
Perhaps if I could make a wish
That with God’s help their pains vanish
I’d pray so hard that they might be
Allowed to keep their dignity !
Along the shore the seashell hides
It’s tossed about by feckless tides
There polished by the caustic sands
To fit into small childish hands,
And with each one they will dream on
Imagining some marathon
Of voyages across the seas
In their shell crafts upon the breeze.
Oh what a tale adventure spells
And how much joy the journey tells
As children dream while magic spins
Their seashell ride into the winds !
I spied a nest there in a tree
It seemed to be a mystery
What migrant pair did flee so fast
To travel cross this land so vast ?
The winter came and stayed awhile
Denying us sun’s warmth and smile
The limbs were bare the wind blew hard
And skirted through each empty yard.
I felt a chill and thought a bit
Of all the creatures born in it
Just how they struggled to survive
And with God’s help most stayed alive !
There is a question piques my mind
While caution should some value find
For in our hearts where truth still rings
One cannot fly with broken wings !
As I see how my life is spent
My prayers rise up, they’re heaven-bent
I speak to God from day to day
And beg Him please to light my way.
Perhaps to lead me by the hand
One day into the Promised Land
These lofty thoughts give rise to fear
What happens if He does not hear ?
I’ll do my best to carry on
He is my hope when all is gone
No matter what, I love Him still
He is my heart, my soul, my will !
I’m home at last quite grateful too
And none the worse for black and blue
The odd fact is I’ve had no fear
Reminding me I’m glad I’m here.
When looking back I always find
The nurses are both swift and kind
I’d like to say a true thank you
To docs and staff and workers too !
I do not think that they can know
The miracles that they bestow
Upon the old, disabled too
Thank God they’re here for me and you !
The pigeon perched upon my sill
He saw his image in the pane
And for a moment stood quite still
He preened and turned around again.
I wonder if he questioned why
There was a fellow in the glass
And who could be that handsome guy
He didn’t look like second class !
Oh silly bird, what thoughts we keep
I really think you are a dear
You close your eyes, are you asleep
I pray you stay forever near !
The colors of the rainbow bright
They run amuck from dark to light
No shades of gray for us to find
For who of us is color blind ?
The madness of the world about
Has tendencies to rage and shout
They cannot see or do not note
What color to us each connotes.
I’d like to think my world could be
Bathed in true colored harmony !
To fill the world with gentle thought
To teach the lessons you’ve been taught
To guide your heart along life’s way
To silence anger and display,
To keep alive your fondest dream
To live with hope and peace redeem
To mix with all and be discreet
To stay your course without defeat,
To love your God, to Him be true
Respect yourself and follow through
Observe the rules to self instruct
Embrace the world with good conduct !
The foggy harbor’s in despair
Red lights are flashing everywhere
You hear the foghorn’s muffled call
The mist slips in to hide it all.
Seems there’s no space twixt fog and ground
The thickened air swims all around
Tis such a sight with naught to see
Except the fog that covers me !
My humble heart
Craves a new start
My God heals all
He hears my call.
His grateful child
I’m meek and mild
I stand and wait
At His front gate.
I need to know
He loves me so
I will be here
When He is near !
Blessed Lord Jesus hear my plea
Blessed Lord Jesus watch o’er me
Help me to do the things I must
Help me to live both honest and just.
Grant me strength to follow your way
Grant me peace to value each day
Handle my heart with extra care
Promise me You’ll always be there !
I hear the Angelus, it rings
Its doleful sound with glory sings
Here from my perch so very high
The mother and her child I spy !
So peaceful in the corner there
Some portion of the garden share
I wish that I might join them too
But it’s too late, quite overdue
The time is past to make amends
I sure would like to be best friends !
The lonely night envelopes me
In magic arms I cannot flee
While darkness keeps me company
My thoughts are at capacity !
The silence echoes in my room
Invading its pervasive gloom
That wears the dolour of a tomb
Be gone, thou wicked silent doom !
Though life is never always grim
There are those climes some wallow in
When all we are does fade and dim
Our prayer must be, do not give in !
Have you wondered where your life has gone
Have you heard the peal of time’s alarm
Resounding loudly in its own way
When days are lost and all gone astray ?
For those of you who remember how
Let us speak with God right here and now
Asking Him in the kindest of ways
To help us through these difficult days.
Tell us again about what we face
When we meet at the end of the race
Help us to understand what it means
As we all reach the end of our dreams !
I’m standing by the window here
The city lights so seeming near
The sky above all black and grays
Now changing with the dawn’s first rays.
Her light moves slowly in the skies
Revealing morning’s bright surprise
Another day has come to stay
Don’t worry she’ll soon go away.
The city lights forever are
Like wind and rain and moon and star
These gifts of God from up above
Insuring His eternal love !
The night has not been kind to me
I cannot wait till dawn I see
The darkness seems to o’erpower me
I feel my faith and courage flee.
The demons charge my aching heart
I need to seek a brand new start
One I may join and take some part
To help the gloom and fear depart.
Today I hope to try once more
I’ll gather strength for my encore
I’ll pick myself up off the floor
I’ll try to open that last door !
The raindrops trickle down the pane
Small rivulets of falling rain
They gather on the window sill
And tremble with a magic trill.
The song they sing is pitter-pat
Sometimes it’s sharp and sometimes flat
It flutters like a fairy’s wings
And to my heart a love song sings.
I’d like to know who thought of this
And give Him one enormous kiss!
The chapel bells ring out so sweet
From here up high above the sound
I see the people in the street
Parishioners all flock around.
Tis Sunday morn and bitter cold
The snow is hard and crunches loud
I see them all both young and old
Laughing hustling in a crowd.
Quite suddenly the quiet falls
The silence seems so full of calm
The chimes o’erhead toll out and call
It is God’s love that is our balm !
The terror of the night draws near
Keep still my heart it may not hear
A drama that each life endured
While hour to hour we are inured.
The smallest sound becomes a threat
We have not found our solace yet
Elusive peace where have you gone
Into the land that lies beyond ?
Say can you tell me what is there
Or will you guess how I shall fare
It matters not for who can know
What lies beyond each new shadow ?
The trees are bare their limbs are shorn
The clouds above seem quite forlorn
They slowly drift across the sky
This panoramic view on high !
The chilly air pervades it all
An early night begins to fall
The moon it rises on the wane
Too soon it will be full again !
The shadows length becomes surreal
Encompassing each snowy field
While we take flight into our dreams
Of perfect days and happy schemes !
For all the gifts You’ve given me
My heart will ever grateful be
Much thanks for joys You’ve brought to me
It is all there, the world may see !
I’ll not complain when troubles call
For there are days the rain must fall
I’ll rise above the misty pall
To whisper thanks to God et al.
Sometimes I waken with a fright
And pray I make it through the night
The morning brings its sweet delight
Wings bearing hope now in my sight !
The sun doth rise the day begins
Who makes the choice of loss and wins
The battle wages on it seems
And opts between nightmares or dreams.
The air is clear it makes no sound
A world of silence circles round
How still it is with bated breath
One listens for the knell of death,
It enters like a nighttime thief
And brings to some welcome relief !
The walls are white, the trim is steel
There is no warmth in what you feel
The sounds are muted and unreal
No clicks are heard from some high heel.
The quiet force moves fast and fleet
Seems this world creeps on slippered feet
The silence fills the void complete
While others will their maker meet !
Who hopes to lie abed in fear
Hear angel voices in their ear
Without some gentle ray of cheer
To know that God draws ever near ?
Claire V. Bogdanos 