EXCUSE me, do you remember RAGAMUFFIN parades ? They occurred on Thanksgiving Day, after church services but before dinner usually at 3 PM. Yes, we did go to church in the old days ! Then ran home to quickly change into our raggedy outfits needed to do our begging, remembering the obligatory shopping bag ! The proper question as friendly doors opened, “anything for Thanksgiving ?” Remember this was the 30’s, the Great Depression and hunger was common in the streets. Believe me this was so, but it made us LEAN and tolerant and kind ! The goodies we received were homemade and unwrapped, cookies, muffins, cupcakes along with apples or raisins and Mary Janes or other. This was all about food, silly ! However in better off neighborhoods, you might receive nickel or dime ! You carried a shard of soapstone to mark the sidewalks or front gates of generous donors. Soapstone the chalk of choice used to draw HOPSCOTCH boxes on cement sidewalks culled from city dumps like hundreds of other items we rescued ! While railroad tracks played a large part in some economies, collecting coal from between the rails to fuel the black iron stoves at home needing only a container of sorts and work gloves ! We scrounged in small groups after school, most trains ran on coal-fed engines. There was NO racism in the debris-field of my early years ! The Great Depression was the equalizer among the masses. And we all loved our Eleanor, I believe we still do ! Happy Thanksgiving ! Sincerely, Claire B.
THEY CAME IN LAST ( 2014 )
Our country’s heart is in a vise
This should not come as great surprise
I’m sad we are a nation lost
With no truth to compute the cost.
The principles that we once had
Have lost their way and turned to bad
The wolves have clad themselves like sheep
While foxes now the henhouse keep !
When Moses prayed upon the Mount
The people fled, their gold to count
They sinned and all their idols cast
But God knew best, they came in last !
THE FAMILY ( 2014 ) 2014/11/26
When I think about all the old tales that I’ve told
I remember my aunt with the heart of spun gold
As she and great grandma shared the same tiny bed
I’d often thought they should use a pull-out instead !
When the mail would arrive we sure got a big thrill
For each card that she sent held a five dollar bill
She wrote penny postcards to us all every week
No one had a home phone upon which we could speak.
That way we could know just how the family was
As we lacked the means to give each other a buzz
Well by now it’s too late and I’m left all alone
How I wish I could call them today on God’s phone !
REBIRTH ( 2014 ) 2014/11/25
The winter winds that spewed unrest
Will shrink and swell within the breast
They swallow air and gasp for breath
Like symptoms of impending death.
How shall we rise from ashes here
This phoenix lost must reappear
It was and once consumed by fire
Revives anew its past expired !
REQUIEM ( 2014 )
The door of life now slowly closes
Where I am gone please send no roses
For on the stem they live must be
Their petals strewn their fragrance free
To float upon the air or breeze
To swirl or stay where’er they please !
Then place no stone upon my face
I crave no words to mark my space
But on the wind my ashes fly
To seek my God who bides on high
Let no one come to mourn for me
From life’s impact at last I’m free !
THE MADNESS GROWS ( 2014 )
The muffled sounds rise from the street
Loud voices raised midst running feet
Mankind has truly lost its way
How shall the children learn to play ?
What kind of anger fills the air
What would you do if you were there ?
There is a God who sees all clearly
Time is come we shall pay dearly
The truth of all it makes no sense
Trust in God’s law our last defense !
TO TOUCH THE STARS ( 2014 ) 2014/11/24
The wind moves gently through the trees
And strums a tune sweet as you please
Some melody the angels sing
When joining in a gathering.
The heart can hear what ears cannot
Remembering what’s been forgot
Sweet memories long lasting are
They reach from earth to touch the stars !
ONE TINY THOUGHT ( 2014 ) 2014/11/23
This tiny thought does grow and grow
When all is done where shall we go ?
MANY THANKS ( 2014 )
The God I know is just and fair
Enfolding us in loving care
He’s kind and good and always there
Accepting of our smallest prayer !
THE SKY IS FALLING ( 2014 )
In some dark corner I know not where
Awaits a time of our deep despair
A time to tremble or runaway
While praying this action may delay
The ultimate end that will befall
Causing our earth’s vast ceiling to fall !
I can’t imagine that this will be
But our world’s steeped in hypocrisy
Do you think there really is a chance
For man’s nature to change and advance ?
I certainly hope that this can be
I don’t want ceilings falling on me !
THE BIRTH ( 2014 ) 2014/11/22
The stars shine bright
The moon’s aglow
The sheep bleat baa
The cattle low
The camels rest
The birds are still
All is quiet
Upon the hill
A brightness floods
The skies above
As we received
God’s gift of love !
INVITATION ( 2014 )
I hear the songs of angels clear
Their phrases falling on my ear
All through the day into the night
Their voices raised so clear and bright
The promise of great joy to come
Inviting all not only some.
I’d like to stand in that long line
With wishes that we’ll turn out fine
I pray I have the strength to wait
And beg of God I’m not too late !
HE CARES ( 2014 ) 2014/11/21
There is a God we know He cares
He waits for us somewhere upstairs
I’m not so sure that it’s a rush
We mustn’t make too big a fuss !
We know He will not go away
It’s really us who tend to stray
We’ll guide our lives as best we can
And thank our Lord with heart in hand !
A WORLD OF STONE ( 2014 ) 2014/11/20
Oh sad Medusa left all alone
Your entire world has been turned to stone
It wasn’t your fault, why should it be
You couldn’t escape the King of the sea !
Your rape therein Athena’s home base
Was your maiden fall and great disgrace
The beauty that you did once possess
Was the cause of all of your distress !
How sad that anger made you the waste
Victim of a cruel goddess’s haste
Ironic that your end does now yield
Your image upon Athena’s shield !
IT’S EVERYWHERE ( 2014 ) 2014/11/19
There’s so much left for us to see
God’s awesome world and majesty
That it would take a thousand years
To see the sights and fill our ears.
With miracles to smell and feel
Both those hidden and those revealed
From alpine heights to desert sand
Please let me take you by the hand !
The hills that rest beside the sea
The valleys wild and rivers free
Vistas that will amaze your sight
And skies that come alive at night,
These are the gifts which we all share
Everyday beauty, it’s everywhere !
DEFENSE ( 2014 )
The demons that we cannot see
They’re our immortal enemy
They own the stage it is their act
I wish we’d get our mojo back !
But we must walk on tippy-toes
Because these devils are our foes
They’re bound to keep us on the fence
God is our help and true defense !
GREAT AUNT OLGA ( 2014 ) 2014/11/18
I had a great aunt she was Olga by name
Her generous nature, the root of her fame
I was told she was born in May eighty-eight
Although it seems that no one knows the right date !
She had the same job for the whole of her life
Sadly she never became anyone’s wife
Though it was not because she had not found love
But the boy she admired was not approved of !
Her Rudy he worked as the baker downstairs
While she sold his bread from the counters up there
Her mama, she followed the old fashioned ways
Dictating to Olga for all of her days !
I know that lives were so different back then
I’m sorry that she died a childless woman
But she brought so much joy to all of us girls
What a blessing she was with her Marcel curls !
She bought us those gifts that no one could afford
Hats, coats and shoes from Mister Macy’s big store
And took us to places we only dreamed of
She filled all our cups with her unselfish love !
GLAD TO SHARE ( 2014 )
I’m sure I heard an angel voice
Reminding me I had no choice
That soon their choir needed me
To join in this epiphany !
I know that it’s a magic time
Rewarding us with joy sublime
Inviting all to hum along
Part of the chorus of His song !
I wish my voice was not so old
And that my hopes have not grown cold
In spite of this I’m glad to share
Our God’s sweet love and gentle care !
THE PATH TO FOLLOW ( 2014 ) 2014/11/17
I have travelled the road and seen the light
In the early dawn or on darkest night
I have wandered far from the common way
And wondered where was it I’d gone astray.
Well I pondered long and I queried hard
And the answer I heard was a mixed card
The truth is always about the right take
God teach me how not to make a mistake !
SNUGGLE UP ( 2014 ) 2014/11/16
Sometimes I think that I might fly
Up to the moon and touch the sky
What would I find once I got there
A cold cold place with thin thin air !
Now that’s not such a happy thought
Imagine all those chills I’d caught
Perhaps I’d settle for a spin
Above this space that I live in
And snuggle up to some warm fire
Until this cold spell does expire !
INHERITANCE ( 2014 )
This legacy I leave to you
Before my words and breath are through
It’s that you learn to live with joy
Treasure the tools that you employ
Give thanks for gifts that you receive
Above all else in God believe !
IN THE BEGINNING ( 2014 ) 2014/11/15
There was a time when man was free
He knew where lay his destiny
The needs were small and simple too
His feelings ran both deep and true !
That empty space now lonely waits
For dreams our hope anticipates
To fill our lives with God’s great joy
Time and patience must needs employ !
What shall we find beyond the bend
Of this long road that has no end
Escape to God’s reality
Reach out for His morality !
NO COMPLAINTS ( 2014 ) 2014/11/14
The willow weeps the nightshades fall
The evening breezes softly call
From faraway a bird takes flight
And flies aloft into the night !
My heart is full it overflows
My eyes tear up the sadness grows,
I wish I knew which path to tred
My errant star glows overhead !
But who am I to make complaint
My soul is lost and lacks restraint
What e’er I do will be okay
For God alone does guide my way !
ROLLER-COASTER ( 2014 ) 2014/11/13
The wind and trees and clouds and breeze
They welcome winters early freeze
The birds are silent, quiet grown
All seeming wait till night has flown !
The early morn awakes in fear
The chill and cold grow ever near
The year moves closer to the end
Where old and new are forced to blend.
There is no option to decide
This is God’s roller-coaster ride !
SWEET GOODBYE ( 2014 )
My heart would pace a million miles
To catch one glimpse of your sweet smiles
And wait for days upon a line
To learn that you were doing fine !
I miss you still and always will
Like all the plans we can’t fulfill
Until the sun deserts the sky
The moon and I bid sweet goodbye !
CARDBOARD ANGEL ( 2014 ) 2014/11/12
Sometimes I wish that I could be
A cardboard angel on the tree
That’s packed away when Christmas ends
Into a box with all her friends !
Thence sleep in peace until next year
To waken there without a fear
Of haloes bent or wings half torn
When we rejoice on Christmas morn !
This dream’s been my attempt to flee
A life filled with uncertainty !
STORYLAND ( 2014 ) 2014/11/11
There was a time in storyland
When castles were both large and grand
Where wizards ruled across the seas
And royalty lived as they pleased !
In storyland there is no pain
The dragons all have fought in vain
The heroes dress in white and gold
And children love the stories told !
I think I might have liked it there
While we all know that’s not quite fair
Though fantasy much pleasure gives
It’s there imagination lives !
AMAZED ( 2014 )
God’s angels who abide on high
All sing His praise to passersby
His works are so miraculous
To share His love is glorious !
How marvelous for us to be
A part of His community
Let’s join again our voices raised
Accept His love and be amazed !
Claire V. Bogdanos 