Oh would that we might comprehend
How paths in life walk hand in hand
With all we need to understand
Like values held both small and grand.
Tis sad that most share virtue lost
Yet do not pause to count the cost
Or thought to help avoid exhaust
Without some chance to hit defrost !
Oh that yearning for times long past
Those youthful days that did not last
Where all our dreams began as hope
To bear no limits in their scope
For youth is that which knows no fear
Of obstacles both far and near.
Yet all too soon those days must pass
Like shadows in life’s looking glass
While time alone may leave its marks
As former youth on age embarks
There face anew another day
To pack their former life away !
I think I hear the death knell sound
Reverberating all around
Assure me, I am not insane
And that their speech is just inane.
I cannot bear what I have heard
Although it’s but the boastful word
Of those who hold no truthful call
Determined they’re above it all.
Oh Lord forgive their arrogance
Those words spoken have no defense
Please blessed Lord remember us
When come those times inglorious !
I like to think that when I cry
The tears I shed whisper goodbye
To all the lost dreams I recall
And tragedies that did befall
For life’s composed of good and bad
Of days so sweet or ever sad
And thus we learn as we do grow
That what we reap is as we sow !
The hopes of a nation are at stake
Our country’s heart is ready to break
See the facade of all that we are
No more a dream but a falling star.
It matters little what we desire
Because we are a people afire
The disease is swift consuming all
Hypocrites stand awaiting the fall !
The trumpets sound, drums beat away
The voices have so much to say
Is this the future soon to come
What is it we are fleeing from ?
Is there some place that we may hide
From all the fears we’ve deep inside
Pick up the pieces, stand up tall
Let’s learn to walk before we fall !
There’s nothing left that one can say
About the sadness of this day
We wish that we could melt away
This hurtful pain that’s come our way.
Oft times our lives turn upside down
And can’t be saved with smile or frown
As these our hopes seem apt to drown
Some other action must be found !
The bells are ringing, hear the sound
It’s Sunday morning all around
Another chance to speak with God
I have not ever found that hard !
In fact the total truth should be
It’s my sweetest activity
So I continue every day
From morn to night, a time to pray.
I know that God is always there
He rarely misses any prayer
Be not afraid, make it your quest
Just cross you heart, God knows the rest !
There is a valley through which each must pass
Where all the minutes sift through God’s hour glass
The journey will be neither swift nor fast
As there is none to know how long twill last,
Make ready my soul, for the die’s been cast
This role that we play, both varied and vast !
When I was young I used to pray
“Please help me Lord, show me the way ”
And then as I began to age
My life soon turned another page.
I spoke to God quite frequently
It seemed we shared true empathy
At least that is what I believed
And do not think I was deceived.
Now that I’m old I understand
Our God is always close at hand
He is our comfort and great friend
Remaining so until the end !
There was a time quite long ago
When our true colors we did show
And saved this world from tryanny
We helped to set the enslaved free.
Now red was for the blood we shed
So children could sleep safe abed
The blue for truth and honesty
Did aid the weak fight anarchy.
And white for those that died to save
God’s people to escape the grave
How sad that we are forced once more
To fight another ghastly war !
We live in dark and dangerous days
Beware of those preaching foreign ways
Remain steadfast to God’s own commands
Avoid the teaching of new demands.
The day expected is soon to come
Keep hold of your faith with its wisdom
God speaks to us and we must adhere
For His judgement day is too soon near !
Oh little child where have you been
Are you now dreaming of the wind
And wondering just where it goes
Beyond your fingers and your toes
On this wild journey way up high
To meet its brothers in the sky ?
Is there some way for you to glide
Upon its currents for a ride
Perhaps to see the world below
God’s miracle of tell and show ?
The raindrops fall upon the sill
The clouds are now at overfill
And moving in their passive way
The rains await another day.
The sky is full of sweet surprise
Beginning with each new sunrise
The stars all twinkle through the night
Some to be hidden from our sight.
The wind that powers every breeze
Silent ripples midst natures frieze
While sounds of life are vibrant still
They carry on and always will !
“THE EARTH ABIDETH FOREVER”
I am convinced love passed me by
I’m told that love grows wings to fly
And so I laugh and chide a bit
Cause love and I don’t seem to fit !
Perhaps in time my heart won’t care
It’s far too late to hope or dare
I think I’ll stick to what I know
With God, love is His premiere show !
Sometimes life deals us tragedy
Too difficult to understand
We look to God for clarity
As we reach out to grasp His hand.
In crisis mode we may feel lost
Seems no one has the time to care
Reach out to God, He knows the cost
And promises He will be there !
I wish, I wish that I could be
The fruit upon an olive tree
So good to eat and full of health
Both for the heart and greater wealth.
This tree can live a thousand years
Producing fruit and soothing fears
The Greeks and Romans knew its worth
Their fables told about its birth.
Seems God gave man the olive tree
In truly ancient history
Add this to all its virtues found
The olive’s wealth must all astound !
Now words are just those thoughts we say
Aloud to help us make our way
Around this world that shelters us
From acts too vile or ominous.
It seems the crass and most unjust
Use voices louder than they must
And overshout the gentle souls
To stop us reaching our true goals.
Let’s show them by one act supreme
They shan’t destroy our peaceful dream !
The sun is up the day is fair
A sound of calm does fill the air
The birds above are on the wing
I hear the sounds they chirp and sing
The wind’s at rest among the trees
Enchanting all with gentle breeze.
I spied a sparrow in the nest
Who seems as peaceful as the rest
Of all God’s creatures that I see
And find I’m jealous as can be !
Our Lord in heaven up above
Does spread His undeserved love
Do you believe that He is there
To hear each sad or wishful prayer ?
I’d like to think that it is true
He’s listening to me and you
And hears our thoughts before we speak
In English, Farsi, French or Greek,
Perhaps one day we’ll understand
That all our dreams are in His hand !
I’ve kept my faith a long, long time
Some days it is an awkward climb
I’ve learned a lot I do confess
Just being here is one huge test.
I know enough to hold my place
And dream one day I’ll see His face
Well it’s okay if I do not
As long as I am not forgot !
At times the pain is so intense
That even tears are no defense
I want to run or fly away
When all my prayers can’t save the day
I do not see how else to live
And need your help to please forgive
Those days that I have thought to die
Before my time to bid goodbye.
I know that there is more to say
Please guide me Lord, show me the way !
I’ve lived my life, its time has come
Some times were bad, some others fun
I’ve lived in shadows and in sun
The good, the bad, done and undone.
And now tis time to make amends
To heal the fences, speak with friends
We tarry on this road that bends
Until too soon our journey ends !
There is no anger that I feel
No sense of needing to conceal
I find no fault in those I know
For they like me have far to go
Each finds their place in life’s vast plan
Respecting all for God and man.
Remember now the ancient phrase
About our lives and all our days
And so twill be that we shall learn
That what we sow is what we’ll earn !
There is this book we all know well
That has so many tales to tell
It’s been around thousands of years
Chock full of joy, promises, tears
They’ve not forgot one single thing
Bout love and lust of prince or king.
It speaks of fear, hate, jealousy
And those who can’t or will not see
Of wisemen, prophets, soldiers too
With visions of our dreams come truth
Life history since time’s begun
There’s nothing new under our sun !
I’d like to be a shining star
Whose light did twinkle from afar
Oh what great fun that it would be
If little children wished on me !
I’d like to be a chapel bell
That every day the hour must tell
From faraway you’d hear the chime
That’s how you knew what was the time !
But better still I wish that I
Had angel wings so I might fly
To greet you all at Peter’s gate
Just to make sure you aren’t late !
From that bridge in Concord to each foreign shore
Bid God above bless them all forevermore
With that elusive peace we’ve been praying for
To rest at last outside of God’s own front door !
The battleground of Shiloh has fields of missing and of dead
Where many nameless small white crosses lineup from head to head
A place where ten thousand died as through the heart this nation tore
While Shiloh from the bible came with His message, peace not war
And was the home of God’s own ark and His holy covenant
That from the Lord to us our peace and true happiness was sent !
Claire V. Bogdanos 