We have cried and cried
……….shed a million tears
For those boys that died
……….through all of the years
Now the war’s been won
……….but it makes no mind
While their battle’s done
……….there’s no peace to find !
Here we are again
……….on the edge of space
You remember when
……….we could save our face
Well that is no more
……….there is nothing left
None have kept the score
……….we are all bereft !
I hear the groans from the street below
As awnings crank, tires screech and go
The blare of morning is all around
And crams the air with its frantic sound.
Oh how I miss the silence and peace
That once I knew on a distant beach
But like the mouse in the country bred
I thought I’d try the city instead.
Oh silly goose, what did you not find
You left the calm of your life behind !
A little child called out to me
At least I thought it was my name
I heard the word clear as could be
Though there are many called the same.
I know it seems I reminisce
‘Bout times that were and are no more
When I’d receive a hug and kiss
Before they all stepped out the door.
Strong memories of yesteryear
Still precious, cling within my mind
There is no thought brings greater cheer
That in this world you’ll ever find !
I wish I were an elephant
With rugged trunk so long and thick
T’would be my speaking instrument
The trumpet sounds both loud and quick.
I grunt and growl and rumble too
Traveling with the herd for miles
My hooves send messages to you
While trunks curve down for friendly smiles.
I’m told that I am very smart
My memory so ever long
Seems I’ve an extra loving heart
Among all beasts I’m the most strong.
Now I’ve been here since mammoth days
And that is like forever time
By now you should respect my ways
And help me to survive decline !
I can see fireflies they’re all aglow
It’s curtain time for their magic show
Soon the stars up high begin to light
They flicker and dance and shimmer bright.
When I was small and not yet grown tall
I’d play outside by the garden wall
To catch them buzz and flitter about
Quite a happy sight without a doubt.
As I have aged my memory brings
Pictures that pull upon old heartstrings
It’s too late now to remember when
No one can ever go back again !
Oh blessed Lord please take my hand
And lead me to the promised land
Help me to leave the pain behind
In this new life that’s mine to find.
The freedoms that await me there
From those who taught me how to care
Are worth the price I need afford
To grant me peace as my reward !
As I gaze on assorted flower faces
I’m transported to God’s exotic places
For a world that is crammed with a million dreams
There’s nothing as simple as all truly seems.
While each tiny bud has a life of its own
And breeds healthy seed from genetics unknown,
Can you imagine in a long ago place
Once bloomed some flowers with a daisylike face ?
Or high trellised upon a very tall tree
There clambered up a type of shining ivy
What a happy conclusion and nice surprise
As loving sunflowers did greet each sunrise.
Now I’m sure as I pass through God’s golden gate
There’s lots more to come and I’d hate to be late !
My arms are full, my heart content
I make my way with God’s consent
If I should die with tasks undone
It doesn’t mean I haven’t won !
I hear the voices in my brain
They always chant the same refrain,
“When you fall down get up again”.
I do try hard to close my ears
And banish all my childish fears
One gets so bored of silly tears !
I wish I knew which way to turn
When plans I’ve made get trashed and burn
There’s so much left for me to learn.
I have a long way yet to go
There is a lot that I don’t know
But with God’s help I hope to grow !
I see the shadows on the walls
Shadows that roam aft nighttime falls
I hear the sound that grips the air
But when I search there’s nothing there.
I feel a shaking all around
But there’s no movement to be found
I sense a trembling ‘mongst the trees
But there’s no wind amid the leaves.
While underneath the seething grows
The mountains lift, the lava flows
The desert spreads, the oceans rise
This earth’s preparing for reprise !
It seems that life is, with all its features
God’s perfect world of imperfect creatures,
How shall we learn what perfection can be
Until we share in His eternity ?
This struggle’s old, six thousand years about
You’d have thought by now we’d have worked it out !
When I was young, a wedded bride
I loved my home it was my pride
Soon it was time for motherhood
Expectant life felt as it should.
The love a newborn baby brings
Can warm the heart and give it wings
Each greets the world with that first yelp,
Those early years need all the help.
While in between weighs take and give
One learns to grow and how to live
Seems joy is but the simple way
To judge achievement in our day.
As I do age my needs become
Just one more chore that must be done
And all this wisdom I have learned
Adds to virtues I may have earned.
Here at the end it all appears
Our lives are full of smiles or tears
But who will be the one to test,
The one to know which is the best ?
Now long ago and faraway
Before the sun came out to play
A little mouse peeked out his hole
And wandered off to take a stroll.
“To see the world before I die”
While asking why, ’twas his reply
His aim, to share with other mice
He brought a bag of pilfered rice.
He traveled far, across the street
In hopes that others he would meet
But on the way with this and that
He ran into an alley cat.
The battle left no great surprise
As mousey met his sad demise
I’d like to think the moral is
Enjoy your home and mind your biz !
Lions and tigers in a row
And when they move where do they go
Into the jungles of the mind
Midst fantasies we yearn to find.
Camels and horses are there too
Waiting faithful for me and you
With rainbowed colors they all wear
In their wild flowing sculpted hair.
Seems right for us to ride away
When organ music pipes to play
As round in circles we must go
Until it’s time for life’s next show !
EXCUSE ME but next week will mark the 101st anniversary of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophia’s assassination June 28, 1914, the day the world as we knew it died ! Who thought this long simmering catastrophe had its beginnings in interreligious wars between Muslims and Christians ? Not I, said the duck ! Not I, said the turkey ! What I find confounding is we have here a situation existing not 100 years but 1300 years of which most of us are not cognizant ! So I ask why ? Certainly a distinctive lack of coherence and understanding. What is the problem with the world’s educational system so as to leave at least 7 billion inhabitants in darkness ? I am beside myself in my frustration and 7 billion pairs of deaf ears, veiled eyes and ignorance doesn’t make me feel any better ! How about you ? Is all this chaos for nought with total annihilation as the only answer left ? Who is there to tell the world GET REAL ! Sincerely, Claire B.
The winds of war rage at the gate
And tell us now our time is late
We’ll know no peace until it’s done
For we have reached our kingdom come !
It’s a lonesome road that we tread upon
When the day has done and the night moves on
When the sounds of dark are quiet and still
You may hear the call of a whiporwill.
The forest echoes with the hoot of owls
There’s an anguished cry from the earth’s deep bowels
Like the voice of those who have gone before
And wept for the lack of an open door.
Let’s pray for the vision that we all share
The love of our God full of grace and care !
Oh how I wish that I could fling
My cares away while on a swing
I’d pump the air to get a rise
So I could reach up to the skies.
The wind would whistle through my hair
When I was on the way up there
And I could see high over heads
Above the parks and flower beds.
I miss that comfort I once knew
I’d love to swing the whole day through !
Long ago far across the seas
There lived a man, a Genovese
Christopher Columbus by name
Whose quest earned him forever fame.
He traveled o’er the ocean waves
To visit harbors, coves and caves
And finally he came to rest
Among the islands of the west.
His goal to seek another way
To bring back spices of the day
Now how did he achieve all that
Since he’d been told the world was flat ?
Though not the first his goal was true
Seems now tis time to say thank you
He had the grit and fortitude
We all owe him great gratitude !
All through my life I shall recall
Those balmy days that prefaced fall
The flippant breeze that slipped the waves
And carried voices from the graves,
Where are you love, where have you gone
What God is it you wait upon ?
Please tell me will we ever meet
Is death by war the last defeat,
Where is the day we know must come
Will God greet all or only some ?
To those days that were and are no more
With youth and beauty flown out the door
To leave us dreaming what used to be
When times were young and our lives carefree.
Oh to relive those elusive days
Where we thrived on love and hope and praise
Since all’s now past, chances diminished
The road is done, we’re almost finished !
How sad am I that I can’t fly
Like Icarus, I can but try
More sad indeed that when I do
I seem a fool to quite a few.
Tis hard to be just one more guy
Who tried and fell out of the sky
I need to find some path that’s new
To reinvent my old virtue !
Sometimes my heart seems to skip a beat
My throat goes tight, unsteady my feet
Searching for reasons what shall I find
Do deeds from the past enthrall my mind ?
Did I waste my time with selfish fun
Do I feel guilt for whatever’s been done,
Is there a rule I’ve refused to heed
Have I failed to help someone in need ?
Perhaps tis now time to readjust
Try to keep smiling, learn how to trust
Think happy thoughts, get on with God’s tasks
Be ready to help when e’er He asks !
Once you and I walked hand in hand
We dug our toes into the sand
Salt water lapped about our feet
The ocean air was crisp and sweet
The breeze seemed to caress our hair
Twas such a pleasure to be there.
I can remember that last day
The one before you went away
All wars have costs that rise too high
With little chance for much goodbye.
War has not changed these thousand years
Great danger bides beyond our fears
Tis sad to say but true it seems
That youth still pays for old men’s dreams !
I saw an owl perched in a tree
“Whoo, whoo “, he seemed to speak to me
Oh, mister owl you look so grave
Is there a way I should behave ?
I’d like to know what I can do
To ease the course of life for you
Or is this world in such distress
You’re here to bring an S – O – S ?
I’d really like to help you out
Leave me a sign or make a shout
If you’ve a message to relay
I’ll speak to God without delay !
Now once upon a time ago
Before the world began to grow
Into the place it has become
With all at war and peace for none,
Are you a global warming buff
Or is your faith in God enough ?
How would you wish for it to be
That all might have immunity
Or better still that you and me
Could till the soil or fish the sea,
This simple life would satisfy
But I’m afraid wars will not die !
A man who walked with God was he
A profile of integrity
A man of honor who chose love
To please his Father there above
A man who died to save us all
From Satan’s might and last roll call !
When I stroll down beside the sea
The empty shells call out to me
I’ve wondered where their owners are
I know they could not travel far.
Were they the victims of a crime
Perhaps some mollusks from the slime
Or maybe hungry octopi
Reached out to grab them passing by.
Their homes seem to be, oh, so clean
No fingerprints left on the scene
Whatever reasons may be true
I’m glad it wasn’t me or you.
There will be danger in the waves
But who is left to do life saves,
We need a Sherlock of the sea
To solve this deep dark mystery !
Claire V. Bogdanos 