What joy it is to see the face
Of one who finishes life’s race
It matters not your rank or place
Just learn to win or lose with grace.
Achievement occupies no space
To try again bears no disgrace
And oh, such pleasure in the chase
As with God’s help one keeps the pace.
There is no stigma can erase
His winning circle we embrace !
I can imagine all the ocean spray
With salted spume wild splashing in display
A breeze that frolics freely in the air
Oh how I dream and wish I could be there !
From the crest of the Caucusus Mountains
To the edge of the cold Antarctica shore
From the great heighths that our space probe attains
To the wild depths of a dark ocean floor
There exists a world that’s all about us
Foreign to that which we have known before
With a sound like the voice of a chorus
Thanking God for earth’s vast features and more !
On a summer eve you can see heat rise
It shimmers and floats there before your eyes
The steaming waves seem to reach for the skies
Before morning dew greets the fog’s demise !
I have seen from the top of the mountains
Into the depths of each valley below
The lush beauty that covers our woodlands
As ocean to ocean great rivers flow !
This life is mine, from my God a gift
With a book of rules, I’m set adrift
And I must learn long before I die
Which rules I shall observe or defy.
Our God is kind, loving and giving
He requires prayer to earn forgiving
For in the end when there’s no strength left
Who is there to blame for our life’s theft ?
We own the clock in this human race
But none knows where is the other place
So I’ll wait in line with all the rest
To say my prayers and to give my best !
Here’s to the Statue of Liberty
And to this place called land of the free
Despite the crack in Liberty’s bell,
Honor the tale historians tell
Of Revere and his steed’s late night ride
Through this great land of the Pilgrim’s pride,
To patriots who fought in the wars
And gave their lives for this country’s cause
To the young, the feeble and the old
The quick and dead, the brave and the bold
And to our Lord who resides above
For His constant care, enduring love !
This beauty that is God’s to share
Displayed to us from everywhere
Shines brightly like a diadem
Its brilliance sparkly as a gem
For all to see and know who’s king
Of earth and air and everything !
I think I have become too old to be
A Disney fan or Star Trekkie
I much prefer the music of
The B G’s or Burt Bacharach’s stuff.
There is no jewelry that I wear
I’ve no desire to color my hair
In the heat or cold, I shun a hat
I guess I’m boring, I can see that.
I’m afraid my books do cover all
The tables, chairs and bench in the hall
I’d rather read than watch the T V
My favorite is B – I – B – L – E !
Patriotism is never out of style for me
This is my life, my nature, my identity !
I’ve often thought that people care
Too much about the clothes they wear
And worry over foolish things
Like perfume, body art and rings
While others take great time to choose
Whose signature is on their shoes.
Now when it comes to pick a car
Some folks take things a bit too far
A car’s a chassis on four wheels
In custom color that appeals
It takes us where we want to go
And really must not steal the show.
Tis better far that we agree
The gifts of God to all are free
It matters not how we are clad
But if our hearts are just and glad
To know at last each choice we make
Will please our God is no mistake !
At times I think I’m petrified
My arms all limp, my legs seem tied
I cannot move, I feel like stone
How shall I manage all alone ?
But who’s alone, we live with hope
And learn to seek God’s broader scope
For He is present every hour
And shares with us His awesome power !
We have cried and cried
……….shed a million tears
For those boys that died
……….through all of the years
Now the war’s been won
……….but it makes no mind
While their battle’s done
……….there’s no peace to find !
Here we are again
……….on the edge of space
You remember when
……….we could save our face
Well that is no more
……….there is nothing left
None have kept the score
……….we are all bereft !
I hear the groans from the street below
As awnings crank, tires screech and go
The blare of morning is all around
And crams the air with its frantic sound.
Oh how I miss the silence and peace
That once I knew on a distant beach
But like the mouse in the country bred
I thought I’d try the city instead.
Oh silly goose, what did you not find
You left the calm of your life behind !
A little child called out to me
At least I thought it was my name
I heard the word clear as could be
Though there are many called the same.
I know it seems I reminisce
‘Bout times that were and are no more
When I’d receive a hug and kiss
Before they all stepped out the door.
Strong memories of yesteryear
Still precious, cling within my mind
There is no thought brings greater cheer
That in this world you’ll ever find !
I wish I were an elephant
With rugged trunk so long and thick
T’would be my speaking instrument
The trumpet sounds both loud and quick.
I grunt and growl and rumble too
Traveling with the herd for miles
My hooves send messages to you
While trunks curve down for friendly smiles.
I’m told that I am very smart
My memory so ever long
Seems I’ve an extra loving heart
Among all beasts I’m the most strong.
Now I’ve been here since mammoth days
And that is like forever time
By now you should respect my ways
And help me to survive decline !
I can see fireflies they’re all aglow
It’s curtain time for their magic show
Soon the stars up high begin to light
They flicker and dance and shimmer bright.
When I was small and not yet grown tall
I’d play outside by the garden wall
To catch them buzz and flitter about
Quite a happy sight without a doubt.
As I have aged my memory brings
Pictures that pull upon old heartstrings
It’s too late now to remember when
No one can ever go back again !
Oh blessed Lord please take my hand
And lead me to the promised land
Help me to leave the pain behind
In this new life that’s mine to find.
The freedoms that await me there
From those who taught me how to care
Are worth the price I need afford
To grant me peace as my reward !
As I gaze on assorted flower faces
I’m transported to God’s exotic places
For a world that is crammed with a million dreams
There’s nothing as simple as all truly seems.
While each tiny bud has a life of its own
And breeds healthy seed from genetics unknown,
Can you imagine in a long ago place
Once bloomed some flowers with a daisylike face ?
Or high trellised upon a very tall tree
There clambered up a type of shining ivy
What a happy conclusion and nice surprise
As loving sunflowers did greet each sunrise.
Now I’m sure as I pass through God’s golden gate
There’s lots more to come and I’d hate to be late !
My arms are full, my heart content
I make my way with God’s consent
If I should die with tasks undone
It doesn’t mean I haven’t won !
I hear the voices in my brain
They always chant the same refrain,
“When you fall down get up again”.
I do try hard to close my ears
And banish all my childish fears
One gets so bored of silly tears !
I wish I knew which way to turn
When plans I’ve made get trashed and burn
There’s so much left for me to learn.
I have a long way yet to go
There is a lot that I don’t know
But with God’s help I hope to grow !
I see the shadows on the walls
Shadows that roam aft nighttime falls
I hear the sound that grips the air
But when I search there’s nothing there.
I feel a shaking all around
But there’s no movement to be found
I sense a trembling ‘mongst the trees
But there’s no wind amid the leaves.
While underneath the seething grows
The mountains lift, the lava flows
The desert spreads, the oceans rise
This earth’s preparing for reprise !
It seems that life is, with all its features
God’s perfect world of imperfect creatures,
How shall we learn what perfection can be
Until we share in His eternity ?
This struggle’s old, six thousand years about
You’d have thought by now we’d have worked it out !
When I was young, a wedded bride
I loved my home it was my pride
Soon it was time for motherhood
Expectant life felt as it should.
The love a newborn baby brings
Can warm the heart and give it wings
Each greets the world with that first yelp,
Those early years need all the help.
While in between weighs take and give
One learns to grow and how to live
Seems joy is but the simple way
To judge achievement in our day.
As I do age my needs become
Just one more chore that must be done
And all this wisdom I have learned
Adds to virtues I may have earned.
Here at the end it all appears
Our lives are full of smiles or tears
But who will be the one to test,
The one to know which is the best ?
Now long ago and faraway
Before the sun came out to play
A little mouse peeked out his hole
And wandered off to take a stroll.
“To see the world before I die”
While asking why, ’twas his reply
His aim, to share with other mice
He brought a bag of pilfered rice.
He traveled far, across the street
In hopes that others he would meet
But on the way with this and that
He ran into an alley cat.
The battle left no great surprise
As mousey met his sad demise
I’d like to think the moral is
Enjoy your home and mind your biz !
Lions and tigers in a row
And when they move where do they go
Into the jungles of the mind
Midst fantasies we yearn to find.
Camels and horses are there too
Waiting faithful for me and you
With rainbowed colors they all wear
In their wild flowing sculpted hair.
Seems right for us to ride away
When organ music pipes to play
As round in circles we must go
Until it’s time for life’s next show !
EXCUSE ME but next week will mark the 101st anniversary of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophia’s assassination June 28, 1914, the day the world as we knew it died ! Who thought this long simmering catastrophe had its beginnings in interreligious wars between Muslims and Christians ? Not I, said the duck ! Not I, said the turkey ! What I find confounding is we have here a situation existing not 100 years but 1300 years of which most of us are not cognizant ! So I ask why ? Certainly a distinctive lack of coherence and understanding. What is the problem with the world’s educational system so as to leave at least 7 billion inhabitants in darkness ? I am beside myself in my frustration and 7 billion pairs of deaf ears, veiled eyes and ignorance doesn’t make me feel any better ! How about you ? Is all this chaos for nought with total annihilation as the only answer left ? Who is there to tell the world GET REAL ! Sincerely, Claire B.
The winds of war rage at the gate
And tell us now our time is late
We’ll know no peace until it’s done
For we have reached our kingdom come !
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Claire V. Bogdanos 