In darkest night I hear the sound
Of silence folding all around
The gentle sway of emptiness
Enlightens my need of success.
The morn will come and light the way
To help me face a bright new day
Another start, another try
These gifts the world does not deny.
Since time decides if I have failed,
My heart concludes, the ship has sailed
I’ll clasp my hands and close my eyes
And lose myself in paradise !
There were two souls long lost at sea
They sailed so far but couldn’t see
One steady course to set them free.
They traveled past the great divide
And cruised the world on either side
There seemed no chance they would collide.
They traveled hard and traveled long
And tried to fit and to belong
In foreign waters filled with song.
Remembering God loves us all,
Perhaps one day it will befall
No matter where that port of call !
My life is like a slippery hill
Sometimes I fall or take a spill
And there are times I cannot see
A feckless bump in front of me.
My eyesight dims, my courage fails
And all my strength in shadows, pales
I know I should be better at
This game of playing mouse and cat.
I find such things a childish chase
My life has need of richer pace,
Dark monsters hurry, fast away
I have no time for games today !
If love had arms, I’d clasp you close
Unto my heart and then disclose
The passion that we never knew
Just lingered there and grew and grew.
It simmered on the edge of fate
It flourished soon but came too late
There never was one chance that we
Would spend our lives in parity.
But that was oh, so long ago
Who can remember, who will know
Sometimes a breeze caresses me
What is it that I cannot see ?
I look into the blue above
For signs of God’s eternal love
And lo, before me clouds arise
To fill the void in vacant skies,
They dance and float with such panache
Creating panoramic flash !
I’m dazzled by their wild display
Reminding me this is His way,
And I shall ever grateful be
He made this world including me
Oh blessed heart that sings a song
Or hums a tune the whole day long,
That dances down an empty street
Where victory must be discreet.
The song we chant is such a gift
It fills the air and spirits lift
I yearn to hear that melody
That echoes like a symphony,
A hymn that’s raised with one accord
To love our God and praise The Lord !
It appears to me that the times just fly
And so like the wind, seem to pass us by
With a gentle nudge and a fond farewell
Without as much as a brief kiss and tell !
Thus having spent my last remaining days
Safe in the arms of past forgotten ways
Like memories of a familiar place
Or the lost vision of some cherished face.
Soon we arrive at the departure date
The time grows short and the hour’s grown late
We must say our goodbyes without ado
Knowing I have left all my love for you !
A man of honor earns God’s reward
He does the best that he can afford
In all walks of life, he’s passed the test
He accepts the blame with selfsame zest.
Both honest and true he stays the path
In times of stress, he channels his wrath
Allowing others to garner fame
Avoiding schemes that tarnish his name.
A simple man believes in himself
Considers family as his wealth
Enjoys the fruit of labor and play
And walks with God each and every day !
Evening arrives I close my eyes
And drift off into paradise
Morning awakes as daytime breaks
I carry on in spite of aches.
While noble deeds are not my style
I want my life to bring a smile
A simple nod, a happy word
Some small aside, not too absurd !
I need to feel the warmth inside
Assured that truth does here reside,
As I welcome my nightly rest
I thank my God, He knows the best.
Across the mighty mountains and
Wild rushing streams that thread the land,
We have promised we shall follow
No matter where that path may go !
Like Ruth of olden days allowed
In truth, she would not join the crowd
But traveled to that foreign place
Pursuing life in God’s embrace.
Now know the joys she’s brought to us
Without her choice, where is Jesus ?
Hidden behind the window blind
What sort of secrets shall we find
What kind of pleasures will be there
For each to seek and perhaps share ?
What pleasant dreams may be fulfilled
Or treasures sought and ogres killed,
How shall we know which way to go
Which path to take or room to show ?
The road is long some will not wait
For ways that lead to heavens gate !
While most dreams of forgotten youth weigh heavy now
Lost illusions and troubled times did crease the brow
As thought gave birth across the miles to freedoms wings
There bides the chance one could expect last happenings.
Another time, another place, another way
Perhaps to offer us one more redeeming stay
And celebrate the fact that we are yet alive
Despite the varied odds of life we did survive
Oh Lord, we thank Thee for one final escapade
Ere we embark upon God’s holy esplanade !
Today is just another day
I won’t agree, I cannot say
For days are how we mark the space
From birth to final resting place.
The life of man is counted so
Weeks, months and years do come and go
We rise and fall and make a choice
We silence keep or use our voice.
If useful life is what we choose
The path we take may win or lose
When all is done and we are free
The goal we seek, eternity !
As time goes by do you recall
Those yesteryears when you were all
Aglow with thoughts of what you’d be
In that bright world the hopeful see ?
Have you questioned why dreams get lost
Or wishes crushed and values tossed,
Or why one cannot sleep at night
Or dreads the coming of the light ?
The heart denies these fears exist
Yet still the lack of faith persists
While you alone must make the call
Your trust in God can conquer all !
The morning’s come, I raise my head
So slowly from my comfy bed
I sense the ever constant sound
Of natures rising all around.
Sometimes I think I’d like to stay
Upon my cot one cozy day
And simply close my eyes once more
Ignore the world and lock the door.
Now this could be a grand surprise
And yet I know that I must rise
Old habits cannot be denied
Supposed perhaps, but never tried !
God grants us all a wider choice
In learning how to use our voice
To make our way and do the right
From early morn through harried night.
Pursue the course and do the best
To forge our way and pass the test
This is one task we cannot fail
The stakes are high we need prevail.
No matter what decisions made
One can’t escape or chance evade
The simple act of courage bold
To choose new ways or keep the old.
My last reaction’s brash and hard
Like Abraham, I will choose God !
The tears that fall are bittersweet
The cause for me remains discreet
I find that tears should hidden be,
A secret twixt my God and me.
So query then what I shall find
Before my days cease to unwind
I question what my future holds
As life before me now unfolds.
The answer echoes through the maze
And complicates remaining days
For lives will end though incomplete
In victory or in defeat !
God is my true compass along lifes road
He channels my ship no matter the load
He bellows the wind and pushes the tide
Wherever I go, He travels beside.
I’ve known for awhile I am not alone
How patient He when my goal is unknown
In the terrible tempest living brings
He’s there at the helm and when the bell rings.
We’ve traveled quite far soon our journey’s done
We’re off to the west to follow the sun !
Life has taught me so many things
To walk with God and sup with kings
To speak with angels and the saints
Enjoy the pictures nature paints,
To love myself and show respect
To souls who suffer from neglect,
To treasure peace and do my part
To heal lifes pain and ease the heart.
This precious gift I wish to share
Bears this label, “handle with care”
I pray I will not fail this cause
God help me please to tame my flaws !
A lacy heart, a tender tug
A gentle kiss, a loving hug
We have no need to lovers be
Since friendship binds both you and me.
We have been friends a long, long time
When we all knew a kinder clime
Though days of old are long forgot
We comprehend forget-me-not !
Oh blessed Lord, please hear my plea
I beg of You remember me
My face is not my crucial part
I offer You my loving heart.
It beats so hard I cannot hear
My puzzled thoughts are rife with fear
My cause is just, my trust is true
Accept my faith, it came from You.
The crystal beads that hug the trees
All together bright and shining
A stunning show of winter freeze
Icy wind and rain combining.
The diamond glaze that rings this space
And ever keeps us expecting
Soon disappears without a trace
As first sun begins reflecting !
I am alive and well
And oh, such truth to tell
I seek one last foray
Into the fading gray.
Too soon the dark must call
While nighttime covers all
Obscuring all the rest
To take God’s final test !
While childhood does so quickly pass
Those lessons learned forever last
A child has eyes that seek the truth
And caring heart that needs no proof.
The child does not a judgement make
Based on reports  both real and fake
The honest world of children knows
That “thank you” works and kindness shows.
Why do we lose this simple touch
When older grown we’ve learned so much ?
What we have lost and left behind
Is innocence we’ll never find !
Here in the deepest reaches of my mind
I treasure all the happiness I find
The chaos of this world about me flies
Encouraging a weakness faith denies.
While each new day must make me stronger now
The battle looms ahead that won’t allow
My trembling hands to fumble as I play
Instead I’ll clasp them tighter as I pray.
The Lord will guide me in this need I’m sure
To help me find one goal that is secure
Direct my hands to forge a brand new start
And bless me with His kind and loving heart.
The mourning dove and I have been
Observing each and much akin
Our lives as such kept company
In times of hope and liberty.
The wings of birds do restless fly
Across the width and length of sky
To search for truth and wonder how
We each survived from then to now.
I cash my chips with grateful ease
And beg my God to help me please
This is my stand and once for all
I’ll answer to survivals call !
We search for the rainbow to show
These colors wherever we go
The blue for the calm of the sky
The yellow to keep our hope high
Green to remind us of rebirth
And brown like the color of earth.
There’s purple to honor our love
Of God and the angels above
While red brings great passion to life
With orange to challenge the strife.
Now lavender favors our past
The pink helps the sweetness to last.
The chartreuse works to calm the mind
But aqua seeks patience to find
The peach has a wonderful glow
And the gray, the wisdom to know.
I think the magenta’s the best
It outshines the whole of the rest
I wonder if God wore a coat
Would pale lily capture His vote ?
I have climbed to the top of the mountain
I have waded the impossible stream
I have suffered through a lifetime of pain
And been part of the American dream.
I have held myself in parade proudly
And have determined that God made us all
I shall answer the last call profoundly
Be it the spring, summer, winter or fall.
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Claire V. Bogdanos 