There’s so much now that used to be
A segment of our history
Forgotten days and glory old
When men who ruled were brave and bold.
They raised our hopes and promised dreams
None have the courage now it seems
Their service is with lips alone
Mass fallacies which they intone.
God save us from the hypocrite
With whom no honor cares to sit
Return us to our glory days
Help us redeem our honest ways !
I saw an owl perched in a tree
He meant to hide himself from me
He seemed so quiet, somber, wise
I was not fooled by his disguise.
Oh mister owl you cannot sing
What message is it that you bring
You turn your head and blink your eyes
You will not win a beauty prize.
It is your wisdom that we seek
But who can learn, you do not speak
This wizened omen of the day
He turned his head and flew away !
I wonder if our Lord above
Looks down to shed His tears of love
Upon the sights that reflect up
Of those who sip from Satan’s cup.
We are His children gone astray
We need His love to light the way
His word is writ for all to share
It’s real, it’s true and always there !
Oh Abba, have you heard my plea
I beg of You, remember me
I love You so, there is no more
I ask of You one last encore !
The wistful willows bend and weep
The mourning doves have gone to sleep
The raucous gulls their silence keep
While in the night dark shadows creep.
Failed dreams lie stagnant in a heap
The charm is gone, the price too steep
The prize we seek beyond our leap
For as we sow, so shall we reap !
I see God’s colors clearly, crisp blue of winter sky
The umber of the dried leaves as they go flashing by
Cool gray of all the clouds as they circumvent up high
And in the sleeping gardens, dull green of plants that die.
The colors are quite somber, I wish they were alive
Suppose I’ll have to wait for the springtime to arrive
I can barely bide the time till the brightness will revive
As I make this silent wish that I shall be alive !
Each day that I awake in the haze of early dawn
In that special moment, I thank God that I was born
And ask the Lord above for another useful day
While I beg Him once again to bless me on my way.
I’ve been praying on my knees since I was very young
In these last twenty years there’s no way it could be done
I try always to remember faith is never free
Weighted on its shoulders rests responsibility !
Oh for the days of auld lang syne
And friends we’ve lost or cannot find
We knew such joy and made great plans
The dreams we shared traversed all spans.
Though others fell beside the way
We managed to get through each day
But truth to tell it’s not the same
Sometimes I can’t recall a name.
I see the face and note the scent
I don’t remember where it went
There is a void left in my heart
This empty space since your depart !
I am a child of God, I am
Through all my years, He’s held my hand
I’ve treasured life, not all of it
Times were I searched through bit by bit.
There’s still much that I need to fix
The good, the bad and nature’s mix
I speak to Him, I’m sure He’s there
I’ve leaned on Him and sought His care.
One thought that must each life enhance
Be grateful for that second chance !
There’s much to learn from nature’s rage
To teach a lesson sound and sage,
Environment came much before
A roof and windows, walls and floor.
I always think that God knows best
His methods have withstood the test
He gave all creatures their first home
Like forests, oceans, fields to roam.
We’ve islands, valleys, mountains tall
A wealth of habitat for all
I wish the world would understand
There’s no cause to abuse His land !
A man stood by the lintel on that historic day
I’m sure that he was sorry he chose to pass that way
And there among the soldiers with rabble gathered round
A man collapsed on the path and hit the stony ground.
On his head he suffered a mock crown made of thorn
His body bore the scourges, his garment wet and torn
The stranger he came forward to give this man relief
He helped him drag his burden just like a common thief.
The stranger’s name was Simon from Cyrene he had come
Who guessed we’d know his name for two thousand years and some,
His courage and his kindness played well on that last day
While our Lord Jesus died in that place so faraway !
The flame burns bright, the words still flow
I’ve more to say before I go
The years have flown, I’ve seen so much
My mind’s alive, my heart’s been touched.
There’s reams now left for me to say
I’m grateful for each extra day
The presence of the Lord is here
The time is now, standup and cheer !
Sometimes the nights seem dark and cold
Shadows threaten both young and old
The winds do play beneath the eaves
They swoosh the ground and lift the leaves.
While in the heavens stars implode
Our world is waiting to explode
The signs are there for all to see
This is no secret mystery.
We can’t receive some magic pass
Like Alice through the Looking Glass
But rather face reality
Where God alone holds the brass key !
Some paths I know are travel worn
Like roses burdened by much thorn
With fallen limbs along the ground
And shattered hopes scattered around.
The road it twists and turns about
It’s full of fear, consuming doubt
But life has always been this way
Sustaining us from day to day.
It’s two steps forward, one step back
Defend your dreams, repel attack
And keep your eye upon the goal
Pray God will guide your heart and soul !
There was a time quite long ago
When I was on a trip, you know
I’m sure it was in Ireland
I saw a gypsy caravan.
It filled a field of great expanse
I stared in awe at happenstance
The travelers were busy there
With tables, chairs and kitchenware.
Each one about seemed occupied
Their washlines full of laundry dried
As children and their pets ran free
Some tended horses I could see.
They gathered wood and were intent
Preparing for some big event
I only saw them that one day
When I returned they’d gone away.
I’ve often thought of their abode
And wondered why they chose the road
To have no base to call their home
And for their lives forever roam !
I have small fears I must confess
With smaller issues to redress
I’ve reached that time of laissez-faire
The world seems wrapt in dark despair,
But who am I, what can I do
Except to turn my heart to You.
From that high perch up in the sky
I beg our Lord this last reply
All judgement lies in Your domain
Pray let the response be humane !
I pray that I have left my doubts behind
Embracing all, accepting what I find
As life does rise and surge and constant wind
Throughout the channels of each fragile mind.
I cannot see, I cannot think
My life is trembling on the brink
The world about is crass and crude
The masses live in manner rude.
This is not what God meant for us
He gave us visions glorious
Our lives reflect His hopes and joys
With echoes that His grace employs !
A flower in a garden that’s treated like a weed
And gathers no attention nor garners any heed
It soaks up what is left or can wither in the brush
Or bides its time in silence with ne’er a need to rush.
A hardy sort, of course, that will weather every storm
And seizes on each moment that bides without a form
While there among lost shadows of times we never dreamt
Lie memories forsaken, abandoned or unkempt !
Do you recall what it was like
When you were but a tiny tyke
And kids would play out in the rain
Barefooted, zooming like a plane ?
Or hopscotch on a city street
With concrete squares beneath your feet,
What’s happened to those days of joy
When children could be girl or boy ?
A game of tag or hide and seek
Just count to ten and do not peek,
Oh how much fun there used to be
When children were kept safe and free !
I hear the angel choir as with clarity it rings
The sound of angel voices carries joy upon its wings
That promises to all a new tomorrow full of peace
As from this earthly plane the Lord does grant us our release !
A little bit of garden around the corner there
A little touch of heaven in early morning air
A highway in the sky for migrating birds to share
A pathway to the stars and a road to get you there.
If thoughts were things
And hearts had wings
Then you and I
Would learn to fly
Into God’s world
With hope unfurled
And spend our days
Singing His praise !
Before my eyes the changes grow
And this old world I used to know
Is disappointing, one by one
We’ve lost our values, life’s undone.
I cannot recognize this place
Sometimes I think I’m lost in space
While all about folks speak in tongues
Like Babel, we have climbed the rungs.
Oh would that we might congregate
And from our sins chance separate
Entreat the Father of us all
To grant us grace ere we shall fall !
Let us build a road to heaven
We’ll pave it with unselfish deeds
Days of the week are but seven
Not quite enough to meet our needs.
This task may take us forever
I hope we can afford the time
Will we succeed, I’d guess never
God knows, it could be worth the climb !
The winds of change surge cross the land
To spread their message where they can
They purge the very air we breathe
With time they may the pain relieve !
There are those times that I regret
The moments that one can’t forget
Remember of all words you say
Some live to speak another day !
I hear those church bells loud and clear
The peals fall sweetly on the ear
I wonder if the Lord above
Finds this a simple show of love ?
When all the choir voices raise
Their hymns to God in grateful praise
I wonder if their thrilling sound
Will reach His ear while heaven bound ?
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
Claire V. Bogdanos 