I hear the sound of running feet
Laughter of children from the street
All playing on the pavement wide
Darting about from side to side.
Their shrieks of glee are full of joy
Including every girl and boy
Oh such great fun that’s to be had
Without scoldings by Mom and Dad.
I love to see the youngsters play
In God’s fresh air day after day
What a sweet pleasure it would be
If all the world could feel that free !
Do you hear the children hard at play
On this idyllic autumnal day
Happy voices raised, so full of glee
Charming the likes of both you and me !
Can you remember what it’s like
To spread your wings and feel grown up
When I was but a tiny tyke
I learned to sip the grownup cup
And now I’m old I can’t excuse
The habits I’ve acquired since then
I wish somehow I could refuse
And to be young once more again.
Oh blessed Lord so much to see
In this new world of let’s pretend
We’ll try our best to gracious be
And hold on tight before the end !
I hear the sound of running feet
It fills my heart with pride replete
Midst noise of children in the street
And all their antics with each feat
They’ve not yet learned to be discreet
Reminding all how time is fleet !
When I was young I used to pray
That I would be a mom one day
I’d raise my offspring to be good
And do the things that children should.
I’d hoped that we’d fulfill the dream
It was a lock or so it seemed
The angels watched from up above
And filled their heads with care and love.
But love is not enough to save
Each one of them from perils grave
There is no way that we may know
Wherein life’s tragedies will grow.
In winds of war or illness great
Who knows the time or day or date ?
Oh hear the sounds that fill the air
Of children laughing everywhere
The glist’ning snow keeps falling down
Windblown to cover all the ground.
E’er softly while they drift and blow
O’er scenes observed now cloaked in snow
If you should wish to venture there
Dress warmly and please do take care !
The smallest tot on Mommy’s knee
Now laughs and smiles each day with me
And through those hands plays “I can see”
While sharing love quite easily !
The simplest pleasures that I will miss
Are an unexpected sticky kiss,
Tiny fingers pulling at my hair
And peek-a-boos meant for two to share.
There is so much joy small children bring
Into each day of just plain living
Their hopes and fears or their smiles and tears
Gifting our lives with surprise and cheers !
Oh Santa Claus, dear Santa Claus
I’m writing to you just because
Christmas is coming round the bend
It’s time to share it with a friend
Though not so simple as it seems
As Christmas nears it fosters dreams.
It is a season to feel young
With Yuletide carols to be sung
It would be nice if we’d return
To days when candles would be burned
When children small were told the tales
Of magic sleighs that had no sails.
The reindeer were believed to fly
Across the reaches of the sky
But let’s pretend a moment more
That elves may work in Santa’s store
It’s true I’ve never seen an elf
Except ceramic on a shelf.
Well never mind, this too shall pass
Like Alice through her looking glass
Until next year, same time, same place
Anticipating your embrace
I pray I’m not too old by then
Forgetting our remember when !
ISN’T IT WONDERFUL TO SEE WITH THE HEART OF A CHILD ?
Oh Christopher, brave Christopher how did you spend your life
Across the seas and oceans wide amidst chaos and strife
You stumbled into a new world upon your wooden ship
What a surprise it was to learn this was no Asia trip !
And thus it was so long ago this land of ours was found
When the Spanish came to conquer and rule all on the ground
Now that is how it did begin in fourteen-ninety-two
Today we owe Columbus all our love and huge thank you !
Oh little child so full of dreams
Life isn’t always as it seems
The door of hope is not quite free
It may not open up for thee.
Just wait awhile and softly pray
That God above will save each day
For it is He who blesses all
And answers when the children call.
Be not afraid He’ll keep you there
Close to His heart and in His care !
I wish I were a child again
Returning to remember when
Those days gone by that I recall
When I was young and oh so small.
I never questioned for one time
That I was in some unsafe clime
I wish that I could do the same
For all those children I can’t name
Who need to seek the safety of
A world chock full of God’s true love !
There is no way one can explain
Why children love to splash in rain
Or why the mud is so much fun
In which to slide upon one’s bun.
There’s no accounting for the joy
That comes to every girl or boy
To screech as loudly as they may
To frighten every bug away.
Or why each babe will play with you
The game grownups call “peekaboo”
And truly I do not know why
They all believe that angels fly !
Hear now the battle marchers’ roar
Sending our children off to war
If not for them who will it be
That gives their life to keep us free ?
This is a song small children sing
That I can’t help remembering
About how much we each are loved
By Jesus who resides above
A simple tune of honest word
The earliest I’ve ever heard
It rings so clearly in my head
The dearest words that can be said !
I’m trying hard to help explain
About the weather and the rain
It seems that moisture from the sea
Is gathered up to shower me.
Most of the fluffy clouds that float
Above my head, land, sea or moat
Are full of water to the brim
That sometimes splashes o’er the rim.
So when those clouds grow ever dark
And cannot find a thirsty park
They open up where e’er they’re at
And flush their cache lick-et-y-splat !
I wish, I wish that I could be
The fruit upon an olive tree
So good to eat and full of health
Both for the heart and greater wealth.
This tree can live a thousand years
Producing fruit and soothing fears
The Greeks and Romans knew its worth
Their fables told about its birth.
Seems God gave man the olive tree
In truly ancient history
Add this to all its virtues found
The olive’s wealth must all astound !
I’d like to be a shining star
Whose light did twinkle from afar
Oh what great fun that it would be
If little children wished on me !
I’d like to be a chapel bell
That every day the hour must tell
From faraway you’d hear the chime
That’s how you knew what was the time !
But better still I wish that I
Had angel wings so I might fly
To greet you all at Peter’s gate
Just to make sure you aren’t late !
My heart is heavy and so sad
For those whose lives have turned out bad
We can’t assess where lies the blame
Our duty is to help the same.
Who knows what pain victims may bear
There is great need for us to care
For we are all one family
Children of God eternally !
There is a place we all yearn to be
It’s not across some far-widened sea
Nor over hills or great mountainsides
And not where malice or anger hides.
It’s not under trees that reach for sky
Or where the eagles and buzzards fly
It’s just a place around the last bend
Of a lonesome road that seeks its end,
To that spot where most lives got their start
And have left behind their lonely heart !
There lived a man his name was Paul
In Hebrew he was known as Saul
Though Tarsus was his native home
He traveled much, martyred in Rome.
Upon Damascus Road went he
To destroy Christianity
Twas on this trip none would forget
Christ had His death before they met !
“While on this road where do you go
Why do you persecute me so ?
My brightest light has made you blind
Three days you’ll spend to purpose find !”
Well Paul at last did true believe
And baptism he did receive
His Acts and Letters we all know
Because our bible tells us so !
Thirteenth Apostle that was he
Who wrote chapters abundantly
He lost his head to Roman ax
His body rests entombed with Pax !
Her eyes so sad, her smile so sweet
She stood there staring at her feet
This tiny child so motionless,
I had to pause, I must confess.
She didn’t speak, no not a word
I wondered if she even heard
I thought she must be in distress
So silent in her wornout dress.
Too many children are alone
Neglected, lost, left on their own
I beg you God forget them not
You are the only hope they’ve got !
In God’s Eden one peaceful morn
Was the first time a lie was born
As Satan turned from good to bad
And ruined the paradise they had !
Sly Satan spoke strong words to Eve,
His purpose meaning to deceive
He answered her as she asked why
“I tell you that you will not die !”
“Come eat of this forbidden tree
That opens eyes so you can see
The difference of wrong and right
And what is wise here in God’s sight.”
Oh foolish child you could not know
How perils of your act would grow !
Have you noticed that the leaves are flown
They’ve been whisked away to parts unknown
I wonder where they now congregate
It once was beside each garden gate.
There was a game the small children played,
Heap up the biggest pile of leaves made
And then just jump and roll around
In that leafy mess upon the ground.
I never thought that game was much fun
With all that cleanup you would have done
But now I’m confused, where are the leaves
Are we victims of bucolic thieves ?
Do you recall what it was like
When you were but a tiny tyke
And kids would play out in the rain
Barefooted, zooming like a plane ?
Or hopscotch on a city street
With concrete squares beneath your feet,
What’s happened to those days of joy
When children could be girl or boy ?
A game of tag or hide and seek
Just count to ten and do not peek,
Oh how much fun there used to be
When children were kept safe and free !
A little bit of heaven has nestled next to me
An angel without wings I’m convinced that he must be
He is a precious package and smells so extra sweet
His daddy’s pride and joy and his mommy’s dearest treat.
Oh tiny babe, with chubby cheeks, hands of doll-like size
You are God’s gift of true love, His blessing in disguise !
Mary, Mary, where have you been
What trouble is it you are in
Is your snow white lamb lost once more
Could he be waiting at the door ?
You need to be so careful please
Protect yourself, face, hands and knees
Perhaps you could learn self-defense
Take care when climbing any fence.
Times used to be you were a child
Quite innocent, both kind and mild
Those days are now forever gone
Keep safe my child, the world moves on !
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 !
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Claire V. Bogdanos 