Somewhere it was a long time ago
I gave my heart away
When did that occur I do not know
It feels like yesterday.
I have never found another love
I’m sure I never will
My life is yours like the stars above
I’ll ever love you still !
LAST TRY ( 1990 )
I thought my heart would melt away
I stood and watched it die today
I never dreamt I’d feel this sad
I’ve sacrificed the love I had.
I stood aside took second place
And spoke with God to seek some space
I tried the best that I knew how
That it would turn out right for now
I trusted God and queried why
I cannot give love one last try !
DATELINE: HOBOKEN, NJ, USA “THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED” ( 2013) 2013/08/03
The emergency alarm bells rang out blaring the call to faculty and student body summoning all to the high school auditorium before noon on a warm spring day, April 12, 1945. This event was being repeated throughout our nation ! We pledged allegiance to the flag, sang the “Star Spangled Banner”, then bowed our heads for the morning prayer and took our seats. There were more than 1000 in attendance. A hush fell over the audience as Dr. John Connelly, a former Jesuit and our principal began to speak. He told us of our nation’s battle and the war effort, advising us to remain calm and to return to our homes to advise our families that our president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt had died that morning. The sound barely audible, gasps, sobs, disbelief, whispers, the words, “You are dismissed” and the shuffling sound of thousands of feet exiting that huge arena. Not a word was spoken. We were a nation in shock engaged in a war of atrocities and horrors with a new and inexperienced leader we had little or no knowledge of to date! We were a nation in mourning! The following week was so quiet, a week of fear! So here we are today almost 70 years later remembering that all we had was radio and several newspapers to tell the biggest story of the moment, the tragedy of the day the music died! Does anyone remember ? I do.
DATELINE: HOBOKEN, N J, USA “HINDENBURG” ( 2013 ) 2013/07/28
It was a warm spring morning in May 1937 in south Jersey with much excitement and anticipation as today, the 6th, was to welcome the famous zeppelin Hindenburg to the Naval Air Base in Lakehurst. There was no fencing around this giant landing field that hugged the state road where the huge dirigible was to land. As would be expected, the entire German American community was getting prepared for the event with blankets and basket picnics.The Angerman household was no exception. My Nana, great aunt Olga and myself had come down by train via the Lackawanna from Hoboken the day before to stay at the house in Cedarwood Park, still no running water ! Great uncle Otto met us at the Asbury Park train station, trip was always fun with food vendors, chanceboard hawkers and novelty sellers keeping conductors busy in the aisles and the riders amused, as the trip took several hours. Well, here we were now in that square black Ford with the skinny wheels and that huge blimp was just over our heads in the sky, many cars had driven onto the field when suddenly the flames seemed to explode and everyone began to scream, my Nana whispered “der Gott in Himmel” and my great uncle sped that old car out of the grass lickety-split in absolute silence. No one said a word. That’s what I remember ! Sincerely, Claire B.
GOODBYE (2013) 2013/06/16
The beauty of aging is the peace that it brings
And the visions of life bearing hope on its wings
Like the wind in the trees in a timeless embrace
Caressing the dreams shining bright on this pale face.
So we travel along while expecting not much
Just the hint of a smile and the joy of a touch
With a wave of the hand and a quiet “good night”
As the eyes close in sleep “tis the end of the flight !
EULOGY ( 1968 ) 2013/06/05
Glitter tinsel bright and gold
Shimmer lantern white and old
My father’s face, the frown he wore
The visage seen from long before,
The namesake not at all alike
Comparing man and tiny tyke,
Had hoped to be but some akin
Again that we delight in him,
But not yet so nor ever be
That any, all, should be as he.
What are we that we leave but nought
Of what we’ve been or might have thought?
Seems all that’s left e’er we depart
Are mem’ries dim in aging heart,
A stone to recollect the day
We came and that we passed away.
A pittance small for life’s demand
A wage not worthy of command.
The moral in this wretched thought
That time can neither hide nor fraught,
Is simple in its elegance
A matter of small eloquence
The one impact to which we’re heir
While most unjust and too unfair,
‘Tis seeming most depraved to think,
We stand, we tremble on the brink
We come and go both heart and mind
And never leave a trace behind.
IN MEMORY OF ( 2013 ) 2013/05/28
The life I knew that now has flown
Into the clutch of bleak unknown
And left me here to query why
All that I loved did bid goodbye
Without a nod or brief farewell
To ease the pain wherein I dwell.
Thus force my heart to comprehend
I can’t control each journey’s end
Although convinced I thought I could
I realized I never would.
TOMBS (1989 ) 2013/02/14
While pyramids do note the place
Where potents took their resting space
( In halls were all their treasures brought
To grace the afterlife they sought.)
My grave should in its stead be laid
Where all the things I’ve loved have stayed.
Those blossoms holding fast the ground
With willows sweeping all around
T’ would be my temple for all times
When bells have tolled the final chimes.
And if my life goes on no more,
Of all the pleasures I have stored
That memory of one sweet day
I felt the wind and watched it play,
There by the church’s chimney spire
Amid the graveyards funeral pyre,
To lift the leaves long sere and dead
To find one tiny budding head.
Thus this shall be my epitaph:
“ To some bread is their body staff
But I who dwelt alone so much
Now join God’s earth with feel and touch.”
Claire V. Bogdanos 