A special bit of heaven came knocking on my door
And sounded so familiar, I’m sure we’d met before
Oh my dearest child, you are a wonderment to me
Please come visit me again whenever you are free
I pray that you will share all the laughter and the joy
That God does offer gladly to every girl and boy !
When I was but a child of three
My nana made costumes for me
Because I danced upon the stage
At such a very early age.
It was the time of childhood stars
And “black and whites” bout men from Mars
Now my grandpa, he sure could tap
He’d dance till dawn if people clapped.
It seemed so natural to me
To imitate what I did see
For years I danced my heart away
And if I could, I would today !
AT THE AGE OF 2 ( 1933 ) I BEGAN TAP LESSONS WITH
THE SWIFT SISTERS ON WASHINGTON ST. HOBOKEN, NJ
MY SISTER ( 9 YEARS YOUNGER ) STUDIED WITH BEN
BLUE AND RUBY KEELER AT JOURNAL SQUARE, J.C. STUDIO
ALL MY SONS STUDIED WITH BETTY BYRD HOCTOR IN
HOHOKUS, N.J. FOR THEIR EARLY YEARS AND MOVED ON TO
FRED KELLY’S STUDIO ON KINDERKAMACK ROAD IN ORADELL
FOR ADVANCED LESSONS. HE WAS GENE KELLY’S BROTHER !
THEY ALL DANCED AND STILL DO !
How often now I chance recall
Those olden times when I was small
And all those relatives I knew
That sheltered me my childhood through.
There’s been so many I could love
To aid me in my dreaming of
A life blest with both good and bad
Mongst all those joys I’ve known and had.
I need to thank each uncle, aunt
For every dream they helped to plant
And all that wisdom they taught me
To live life with integrity !
There was a place we used to go
When I was small so long ago
A spot straight out of storybooks
Beside a beach with coves and nooks.
A happy home for waves and sand
Of salt and sea aside the land
My childhood summers I recall
They were the very best of all.
With mom and dad, pop, nana too
Those days of summer quickly flew
I learned to swim right off the dock
Clock hands grew wings, tick tock, tick tock.
Oh, how I wish I had a way
To live again that yesterday
Without the need to say goodbye
Real love’s ne’er built upon a lie !
At times I’m sure I hear the sound
Of children laughing all around
I hear the patter of their feet
In clitter-clatters from the street.
Oh how I wish that I were there
As joy was rising in the air
Remember how it used to be
When hearts were young and love was free ?
Those days are gone, they won’t come back
Our lives today under attack
Why must we suffer such distress
I do not know, what is your guess ?
The love I knew when I was small
With hugs and squeezes by the score
That was the best that I recall
Along with being kissed galore !
I never thought that as I grew
All those moments would stay with me
And add to all the joys I knew
To be my favorite memory.
It’s long ago, the times now past
I wonder where the years have flown
I’ve never found a love to last
Or one that I could call my own !
There is this hymn I used to hear
Sung ever softly on my ear
When I was young and oh, so small
I loved that tune the best of all.
It was my night time beddie-bye
The one mom sang if I did cry
I taught my children that same song
When they were young we’d sing along.
We did so quite religiously
In joy and pleasure frequently !
* see lyrics “JESUS LOVES ME”
There are some days I still recall
When all my babies were quite small
They laughed a lot and cried some too
Midst pillows, quilts, scissors and glue.
The kitchen floor, their happy place
With lessons and great playing space
It was the classroom served them best
That through the years withstood each test.
I relish now the times we had
When all were young, not yet a lad
So full of hope who could forget
And nothing left to hold regret !
Oh my dear child so full of glee
I wish that you would visit me
Perhaps we could have tea and cake
What kind of pastry shall I bake ?
It would be nice twixt me and thee
To share a special tea party
And if you’d like to bring a chum
I’m sure that we’ll have room and some !
Why can’t I remember or recall
All those precious times when I was small
When I sat upon my daddy’s knee
As he held me tight and talked to me ?
These memories are melting away
Just like my life, drip by drip each day
Oh what I’d give to capture it all
Sweet memories from when I was small !
There’s an old rocking chair I do recall
Remembrance of days when I was so small
While my nana cuddled and held me tight
If I was tired and lost or full of fright.
As we rocked away in that wornout chair
With many a ride we’d places to share
I believe each child is entitled to
A view of the world from a lap or two,
I pray each gets the opportunity
To bond with someone as special as she !
Oh little lamb you are so sweet
With wooly coat and nimble feet
You make me smile, oh cuddly beast
Among God’s creatures, not the least.
I’d heard that Mary was a fan
Together you two played and ran
Though I have never had the time
I can remember childhood’s rhyme.
Maybe one day both you and I
Will meet our Lord in passing by,
He has been called the Lamb of God
Perhaps we’ll bide in His backyard !
Who knows where we’re going or where we’ve been
“Not I”, said the top who began to spin
While the jacks and the ball started to play
The electric clock tried to run away.
As the toys in the playroom danced about
Tin soldiers awoke and started to shout
Oh such fun it was to play let’s pretend
So sorry childhood must come to an end !
How sad it is upon this day
That childhood soon must fly away
The dearest gift a child may find
Is someone who is of like mind
The search is long, it’s journey fleet
And sometimes it is bittersweet.
Tis better still as we do grow
Into the adult all should know
To leave our wayward cares behind
As need and purpose doth unwind
While hidden there amongst the shoals
Are finer truths and greater goals !
My thoughts do turn to silly things
Like hugs and kisses and brass rings
Like elephants and tiger eyes
A world chock full of wild surprise
A heart that’s packed with joy and peace
And music that will never cease.
Ballet shoes made of satin white
That keep on dancing through the night,
The love of God and angels sweet
Who choose to walk with unclad feet
Chocolates and marshmallows too
To help our sweetest dreams come true !
There was a stranger that I’d met
I’ve often found hard to forget
A chubby chap with ruddy cheek
Whose laughing eyes through glasses peeked.
His outfit of bright red and white
Somehow escaped true fashion’s height
His wide black belt was extra length
His speech displayed great vocal strength.
I knew we’d met some place before
Perhaps in Macy’s New York store
Now that was long ago I’d bet
Some images you can’t forget !
Oh how I wish that I could fling
My cares away while on a swing
I’d pump the air to get a rise
So I could reach up to the skies.
The wind would whistle through my hair
When I was on the way up there
And I could see high over heads
Above the parks and flower beds.
I miss that comfort I once knew
I’d love to swing the whole day through !
When I was small I had this toy
Of cotton cloth, it was a boy
And when I went to bed at night
I’d hug my Sammy oh so tight.
He wore long overalls of blue
His shirt was striped with pockets too
Brown hair had he of woolen yarn
His eyes were closed, his mouth a yawn.
I loved my Sam with sleepy eyes
My daddy won this grand surprise
One summer night twas after dark
In Palisades Amusement Park.
They’d spin a wheel around and round
And when it stopped the number found
Could win a prize but mostly lost
Just one thin dime was all it cost.
Sam lived with me many a year
He was my friend and brought me cheer
But after daddy went and died
Perhaps Sam ran away to hide.
I never found him after that
Of course we moved to a new flat
I’ve often hoped that he did find
Another child to treat him kind !
There’s a ragdoll sits in my chair
Black button eyes and red yarn hair
She’s been with me so many years
Through happy days and lots of tears.
She sits there like a regal queen
Commanding my whole bedroom scene
She is quite old but in good shape
Poor thing, this is her one landscape !
Her eyes came from old button shoes
A pair my mother once had used
When she was just a child like me
And dreaming of her life to be.
If Marcella were only here
To see the joy and happy cheer
Her Annie brings into each room
Chasing away the children’s gloom.
I know that it would make her proud
That her dad’s gift still woos the crowd
Though it’s one hundred years ago
Raggedy Ann still steals the show !
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.
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 !
The bedtime stories I was told
When I was not so very old
Remain with me these many years
And fill my heart with smiles and tears !
A magic bean that climbed a wall
And saved the princess from a fall
Teutonic knights both brash and brave
Who slayed the serpent in a cave !
The knave of hearts who stole the tarts
Or ogres who have kindly hearts
Come to my mind with varied tales
Like Salome with all her veils !
I’d love to visit just once more
Ere I secure childhood’s last door !
When I was small and dreamt a bit
About a niche where I might fit
I thought that dance could be my style
It made my folks applaud and smile !
I’d twist and twirl and spin around
And click my heels upon the ground
Into the kitchen, on the stairs
I tapped away most of my cares !
In window panes or mirror bound
That’s how I chose each pose I found
Since I have lost my dancing shoes
Which other footwear shall I choose ?
With fortune surely changed so much
What will replace my stagedoor lust ?
( My wheelchair and I are good friends since 1989 )
Perhaps it is because I’m old
That childhood glows like precious gold
Those days we thought had been forgot
Are part of each one’s Camelot !
Which role we play is our own choice
The option is weep or rejoice
We complicate decisions made
It’s what we do when plans are laid !
For each of us who would go back
What’s done is done we can’t redact
While we retrieve lost memory
There’s nothing that God does not see !
I see a princess standing there
She seems to be in great despair
What is it that you cannot find,
Oh, have you left your wand behind ?
I note a frown upon your face
Is your tiara out of place,
What is it that is now askew
Is there something that I can do ?
With ruby slippers on your feet
I truly think you are so sweet
Oh princess, may I beg of thee
One sticky kiss to set me free ?
The little babe with smile so sweet
Whose tiny hands and wiggly feet
Are perfect as they move about
Is pure within and snuggly out !
Imagine what the years may bring
Dreams and hopes are just beginning
But it could take a bit more time
Before each child begins his climb.
Let’s beg that God will be right there
To guide him and to hear his prayer,
Do not forget him as he grows
Life’s hard enough all heaven knows !
There is this little girl I know
Who is as sweet as sweet can be
And when her grey eyes smile and glow
She brings great happiness to me.
I need to add she is quite smart
And uses words with charm and grace
She brings much joy to this old heart
Her kindness beams upon her face.
I find her ways are just and true
This gentle child that God has wrought
Her laughter sings and filters through
The wisest lessons we’ve been taught !
When I find myself in a daze
I wallow in vanilla glaze
I’m not too sure why that should be
My world is mostly sugar-free !
Perhaps my childhood will explain
Why sugar icing calls my name
I grew up in a sparser time
Where sweet things cost one extra dime,
And cake was truly all homemade
No soda pop just lemonade,
That canvas bag of powdered sweet
Marked 3 X, my old childhood treat !
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Claire V. Bogdanos 