I thank you Lord for all you’ve done
Not just for me but everyone
I’m grateful for Your help and care
And glad that You are always there.
I know You are the keeper of
My heart and mind from up above,
That all I have You’ve given me
And all I am belongs to Thee
I am so glad my life began
Close to the ocean’s magic span
All seasides bring great joy to me
I’ve spent my life next to the sea.
For I have been in Jersey born
And loved its waters night and morn
I’ve spent my childhood playing by
The edge of lakes or brooks nearby.
The sound of water seems to me
Like some majestic symphony
There’s never in my life a day
The water’s not a walk away.
To me the choice is matter small
If leafy pond or waterfall
Some stream meandering about
Or bubbling spring with water spout.
Now I’m a Pisces, water sign
Two little fishes unaligned
While one swims up, the other down
Whatever happens we don’t drown !
Now I have met the devil and fought him hand and fist
There is no way I wouldn’t, by strength and with great risk
The battle left me empty and yearning for a rest
I shall arise tomorrow if I survive this test !
The walls are sterile, antiseptic clean
The floors are silent mopped by hands unseen
The night is long and chill and strangely stark
As tip toe feet cross these halls in the dark.
There is one thought that quickly flashes by
This is a place where few prepare to die
The air is still, but hear the humming sound
As thousands of machines do all surround.
Here nurses try to understand slurred speech
Dealing kindly with parts of pain’s release
Pray time does rapid heal without delay
As some won’t live to see another day !
I’d like to take the time to say
I wish you all a joyous day
With peace and happiness to share
And lots of extra love to spare !
When I grew up life was so hard
There were no swing sets in the yard
And baby sitters were unknown
Your parents left you home alone
There were no bathrooms in the house
You took the path to an outhouse.
We never minded that at all
Although at times I thought I’d fall
Into that abyss in the ground
Without a hope of being found
That’s how I learned to be so brave
Like all the candles I still save.
Yet life was real and full of hope
One didn’t in the darkness grope,
It made us strong and very wise
Our world was full of great surprise.
God gave us will to make a choice
To use our hands and heart and voice.
The stoves were big and black and bold
And kept us warm through winter cold
Each family had an icebox
No TV but a small voice-box
We cherished it, both girl and boy
Those days of old were full of joy !
The moment’s come to bid goodbye
To all I love ere I should die
For time is swift as we all know
One can’t command it stop or go.
The end is quick, affords no choice
We are adrift without a voice
It matters not the age we are
Or if we’ve traveled wide or far.
The goal is clear enough to see
Just how each one is dear to me
Since all must pass, as is the case
It ‘s still the rule none can erase !
This road I’ve walked for oh so long
Has taught me much and made me strong
I have not flinched in spite of pain
Finding more ways to help maintain
Those days that challenge me anew
Questioning now what shall I do ?
I’ve come this far with faith in God
His help has made my path less hard
No matter what new days may bring
I thank my God for everything !
The winds of March are on the wane
O’ershadowed by young April’s rain
The clouded skies loom ominus
While springtime clouds crowd over us.
A hint of blossoms fills the air
Oh how I wish that I were there
When lilac blooms begin to show
There is no place I’d rather go !
The sun invades the early light of morn
As each day doth pass from the dusk to dawn
The birds do exit from their hidden cleft
To search for morsels that each night has left.
While men must all learn how to face the dark
When times turn bleak and moments seem so stark
Take care that hope is not forever lost
Hold on to faith no matter what the cost !
The day is coming it’s almost here
Hold onto your hat, let out a cheer
Here comes the spring bearing a new year.
The sun is shining, we’re warming up
About to partake of springtime’s cup
Time to thank our Lord ere we do sup !
I’ve tarried long on this troubled road
And carried much of it’s heavy load
I’ve pushed and pulled and shoved far too hard
And buried my dreams in God’s backyard.
But dreams are not what it’s all about
It’s the values we share without doubt
And the courage it takes to do right
Even when deeds are beyond all sight !
Who knows where we’re going or where we’ve been
“Not I”, said the top who began to spin
While the jacks and the ball started to play
The electric clock tried to run away.
As the toys in the playroom danced about
Tin soldiers awoke and started to shout
Oh such fun it was to play let’s pretend
So sorry childhood must come to an end !
I’ve come to God’s altar with truth, honor and love
Expecting fair judgement from the powers above !
Where are you going little mouse
Rapid sneaking around each house
In the halls you skirt and scurry
Rushing always in a hurry.
You seem to move so very fast
The world you know is not that vast,
Appears that God has met your need
And granted you some extra speed.
I wonder what you’re looking for
As you do scoot from door to door
Oh little mouse with tiny feet
Sad that your life ends in defeat !
I hear voices from the past now crying
Drowning my senses with their last sighing
Alas, for all about me are dying !
It seems the heart returns to childhoods past
Where all of our dreams were designed or cast
The innocence of those now bygone days
Got lost in the grip of our foolish ways,
And the times we dreamt have now disappeared
To leave us caught in the crisis we feared !
Oh dearest Lord what were you like
When you were but a tiny tyke
And when you played outside your home
Did you get lost or perchance roam ?
What kind of games did you partake,
There were no windows you could break
I’m sure that you were full of vim
What troubles did you make for Him ?
How much your Father loved us all
To sacrifice what would befall
His only Son conceived for men
To dwell in paradise again !
At peace, a child of God am I,
I yearn to see His banner fly
I’ve followed Him along the way
And have not begged a longer stay.
I know that He is always there
Assured He answers every prayer,
He holds my life in His own hand
With Him I’m sure all will be grand
I close my eyes the time draws near
My heart is full I have no fear !
Our Lord now bides in heaven but stays close to our side
In keeping so near by us, He finds us when we hide
To hope that we might touch Him, what a joy that would be
But it can’t ever happen that’s not allowed you see
And so we are content just to know that He is there
Sure it is He loves us all and hears our smallest prayer !
We see remains of vicious war
And wonder what it all was for
The broken bodies, missing parts
With active minds and aching hearts.
How will we reach the end of this
It won’t be cured with just a kiss
The work entailed is mass indeed
This task demands the utmost speed.
We can’t permit this fear to grow
It’s time solutions start to show
Get off your perch and pull up tall
Or we shall never stand at all!
The lady in the harbor that we call Liberty
Stands waving her approval for all the world to see
She’s been there far too long on that island in the bay
Think of all that she has seen and what she has to say.
May the Lord in heaven look down kindly from above
Protecting our great nation and values that we love !
Now I have traveled long and far
By foot and train and hired car
I’ve searched across the world’s domain
By boat and mule and aeroplane
Where’er I’ve gone it’s clear to see
That home is still the place to be !
I see the flag that flies o’erhead
Red, white and blue as truth be said
This banner that forever waves
Our dignity and honor saves.
How proudly should we all observe
Respect for truth while valor serve
I’m glad to do all that I can
Because I am American !
The time has come to speak of things
Like love and hope and friendship rings
I’ve never had a friendship ring
But yet my life with joy does sing.
My hand still unadorned must be
To show the world that I am free
There’s but one love that is for me
My heart has pledged to walk with Thee !
Oh joyous times and happy day
To sight the gusts of wind at play
I watch them lift the calm away
While yearling trees do bend and sway.
So much in life does imitate
How passions in our lives relate
To nature’s role as surrogate
Ere stormy days with time abate !
When I awoke this early morn
I thought about when I was born
It was the Great Depression clime
To most it was like world’s end time.
Who could have thought that we’d survive
Or that this world would soon revive
While clouds spread over seas and lands
Deserted towns and dust bowl sands.
Too few are left who yet recall
The poverty which did befall
With angst and agonies we knew
Like pain and failures we’ve come through.
We pray that era won’t return
There are great lessons we did learn
You must not hide your eyes in sleep
The danger grows both close and deep !
The days grow long while nights remain cool
As time approaches, tis April Fool
Too soon all crocus will waste away
To make more room for the buds of May !
As daffodils edge the garden’s path
And the springtime rain gives all a bath
Tis odd to see how the land turns green
With the help of a God who bides unseen !
Claire V. Bogdanos 