I have wandered lost on streets of concrete
Where one accepts the result of defeat
My heart cried out in its journey unknown
And hugged its armor of asphalt and stone.
I have traveled this world hoping to learn
The turn of a phrase or toss of a coin
But discover at last I’ve been undone
And conclude this vision remains unwon !
Time has come and gone and finally flown
And has left me here lamenting alone
Oh would that we’d find a peaceable end
In the comfort of God, angel and friend !
My love for God is not a fad
It took much courage, all I had
I wished that I might inspire you
To see the future as I do !
We need to halt and take a rest
Learn to accept how we are blessed
Observing sea, air, earth and sky
With animals and birds that fly !
These creatures part of God’s invent
Display to us His great intent,
This gift to us, the final prize
That transports all to paradise !
The morn arrives with no surprise
To flush the corners of our eyes
While airborne creatures fill the sky
To welcome day, bid night goodbye.
The streets are clear and fresh with dew
The day begins with chance anew
Pray hear the flutter of the heart
And grant each one a brand new start !
I loved someone so long ago
He couldn’t stay, he had to go
There was another path to take
It mattered not what was at stake !
His rendezvous was preordained
It left no future to be gained
One can’t refute the final score
While knocking on heaven’s front door !
Have you wondered how the angels sleep
With all of the timid souls they keep
Children and babes and the very old
And those enduring grief uncontrolled ?
How do they manage I’d like to ask
To juggle such an enormous task
And will their numbers be large or few
When each nightfall comes what do they do ?
Do angels truly have giant wings
Does anyone hear when an angel sings
With so many facts we’ve yet to know
Will they be there when it’s time to go ?
If there is a God who watches us
He knows we create ungodly fuss
As daily we make our way in life
While threading through all its stress and strife !
If there is a God who reigns above
He is kind and showers us with love
There waiting to perform goodly deeds
To dispel our fears and fill our needs !
If there is a God who rules the earth
He is familiar with each from birth
While observing human growth and care
Help us end our grief and our despair !
What madness here that I can see
With strength that overpowers me
And grows intense as days go by
To watch our freedoms fade and die ?
Where is the world that I once knew
Its courage strong, it’s values true
While shadows fall upon the thieves
And on the streets the poplace grieves ?
This country that we love so much
Suffers greatly from Midas’ touch
When will this deity be gone
Have we the time to wait that long ?
I cannot bear to see your pain
And need to help you heal again
I do not truly understand
But mean to stay close by your hand.
One simple wish I’ll try to fill
To strive to keep you safe until
Angels appear upon the scene
And God has time to intervene !
My mind becomes a time machine
Like Jack, I have this magic bean
It grows and keeps reminding me
Of memories that used to be !
The clarity of where I’ve been
Is clear as I remember when
I wished that I could share this gift
With those who need a mighty lift.
It’s not that truth falls in-between
These cracks that pop-up on the scene
It’s simply that one waits too long
To ponder why good things go wrong !
Perhaps we could retrace our ways
Recalling all those yesterdays
When each of us would stand up tall
Admitting errors great and small !
A lifetime promise I shall keep
To speak with God before I sleep
This vow I took when I was small
The reason now I don’t recall !
It had to do with truth and lies
Seeming foolish and being wise
I can’t be false while pledging true
I’m partial to red, white and blue !
About me here I spy the face
Of many that have earned disgrace
They have small faith in who we are
And won’t enhance our rising star !
I’ve seen the windmills by the sea
I’ve listened as the gulls scold me
The waves that wash the sandy shores
They whisper while the ocean roars.
Like dew that rests upon the rose
Then disappears as mornings close
The sun now rises warming all
After the cool of late nightfall !
Thus it is as our goal proceeds
So much beauty among the weeds
But who can choose what does belong
It is God’s option, right or wrong !
A bandana tied with simple knot
A small bouquet of forget-me-not
A beach blanket set upon the grass
Napkins, utensils and plastic glass !
What do we have here before our eyes
I think it could be picnic surprise
Oh, how romantic and ever sweet
What secret treats and what will we eat ?
I see a basket next to the tree
Must be luncheon meant for you and me
Is that bottled bubbly I can spy
To celebrate the Fourth of July !
The sunshine sneaks into my room
Replacing night time’s eerie gloom
The photos hung upon the wall
Do happy days and times recall.
Familiar faces one by one
Remind me of past summer’s fun
Those thoughts so full of magic sights
And warm and sunny days and nights !
I wish somehow we could return
To memories for which we yearn
But it’s too late for turning back
That train left on another track !
July the first in history
The year was eighteen-sixty-three
A troubled time, a day of rage
Some farmer’s field that was the stage.
Those men that died that sad sad day
Had such an awful price to pay
While those who lived to fight again
Could have no thought when it would end !
How ideals change we cannot know
For what’s inside we dare not show
But God alone will make that choice
He is our judge, our heart, our voice !
I do recall when I was young
How proud we were and prayers we sung
To thank the Lord up in the sky
While watching that bright banner fly !
We pledged our trust to God and man
Assuring all with voice and hand
We will not fail or fall behind
Our actions would be just and kind !
And so it was these many years
We have survived through trials and tears
Seems now that we have reached an end
Our flag reviled and without friend !
Forgotten there upon the floor
Hair ribbons littered by the door
The smell of aftershave so sweet
It taints the taste of breakfast treat.
With crumpled socks all in a heap
Next to the sheets from last night’s sleep
A sorry mess that waits for care
Beside the dresser on the chair.
Because we have a mission here
That visits us just once a year
Our nation’s birth we’ll celebrate
No matter what we shan’t be late !
In toyland there are toys galore
They fill the shelves and crowd the floor
A sight to garner great surprise
It is a childhood paradise !
How marvelous the world would be
If all the children could be free
To run and play and laugh and smile
Enjoying freedom all the while.
Perhaps one day our God above
Will shelter them with all His love
And teach them how to live in peace
As war and hate and pain will cease !
Can’t find the words to speak of things
Like cats and dogs or queens and kings
Toy sailboats on a bathtub sea,
Or old old friends like you and me.
The words get lost along the way
And syllables have gone astray
As hopes and dreams that we’ve forgot
Are memories that linger not.
The slow process of growing old
When hands and feet and hearts turn cold
Are but the facts we need embrace
Before life’s end and time’s last race !
There are some times I’d like to be
A lion king who wanders free
Among tall grasses on the plains
With tawny skin and curly manes,
Ferocious roar and lazy ways
Keen sense of smell with steady gaze !
It might be great to share the den
With faithful Daniel way back when
He slept with lions in the cave
While God above did his life save,
Exposing those who compromised
And schemed to cause Daniel’s demise !
To stand up tall and not fall down
To learn to live without a frown
To be sincere while yet a clown,
To welcome those at your front gate
To proffer love instead of hate
To pleasant be and seldom late,
To greet success with gracious smile
To truthful be without denial
To kindness give and not beguile,
To help the weak before they fall
To answer when you hear the call
Believe that God is there for all !
One feeling is consuming me
It seems to set my senses free
This holocaust of life and death
Begs God’s forgiveness with its breath !
What courage does sensation bring
Will it engender anything
Or cower in some corner there
Afraid to take life anywhere ?
Where is the sun that chastens night
Our faith will guide us by the light
We have the right to see it through
God will be there I promise you.
If we have lost or we have won
We shall not know till life is done !
Sometimes I think that I could be
A noisy frog under a tree
With leaves so strong they seem to float
Upon the stream much like a boat
And there to be called Captain Frog
Who sails about and keeps a log.
Perched on my head a sailing cap
That while afloat I still can nap,
In storytime this tale is told
About a frog and princess bold.
I harbor thoughts now ever since
That I might be that froggy prince
But feel a magic kiss, how odd
For even frogs believe in God !
I’ve often thought I’d like to be
A giant whale who lived asea
Perhaps related to the beast
Who swallowed Jonah as a feast !
Think of the tales I could have heard
Right from an ancient humpback’s word
Oh what stories that I might spin
To shark or cod or small dolphin !
How much fun to splash about
Knowing God gave me my spout
Oh, what a grateful whale I’d be
Thankful He made great use of me !
These prayers are for those sad of heart
With grief for they who sudden part
Each hero’s death too high a cost
Who guides their way among our lost ?
While heroes live in memory
Such memories are never free
Their price is great who knows how much
What tears we shed or hearts we touch ?
When will this sacrifice be done
How long before the battle’s won
Ask God, please help our treasures save
How many more must greet the grave ?
I hear the distant voice of spring
It’s echo now remembering
The pleasant hours it left behind
That time to come may chance rewind.
Those days of calm before the storm
While hearts were young and without form,
Days felt so crisp the air was sweet
Our wishes then knew no defeat !
Crass life recalls those dreams forgot
That moved on by and lingered not
As hope and love did melt away
Into the mist of yesterday !
The leaves of time blow wild and sere
The trees of life turn stark and drear
This is the season we’ve been told
That chills the mind and waxes bold.
The serpent moves in secret ways
Designed to veil his anguine days
We need take care to not be caught
Within the net the viper wrought !
In the quiet of the room
Angels whisper in the gloom
Do not worry we are there
We shan’t leave you in despair.
God is here and with you now
He remembers all somehow
Child of God just close your eyes
It is time to say goodbyes.
Do not grieve this is the best
Time to seek that final rest
You are not lost or forlorn
The morrow brings your new morn !
The dreams we dreamt when we were young
The words we spoke, the songs we sung
The search for peace we tried to bring
Into our lives with hymns to sing
Has left us now with voices mute
All wisdom lost there in pursuit.
We cannot breathe we dare not think
This world is trembling on the brink
Oh sad the plight that is our view
Oh God above what shall we do ?
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Claire V. Bogdanos 