If I could tell you of the tales
That in my life have been regaled
Of witches, clones and flying things
Like bats and other strange beings
Or zombies who take walks at night,
Like voodoo magic by firelight.
I know this all sounds rather queer
Especially this time of year
But Halloween is on its way
In fact, my dears, it is today !
Oh goodness me, what do I see
An errant kite caught in the tree ?
What shall we do, too high to reach
How can we span this giant breach ?
When I was young I used to climb
These twisted branches all the time
Amazing that I never fell
Yet still have loads of tales to tell.
Though apple trees can’t grow too tall
In fact they seem to be quite small
The limbs all jumbled in a bunch
There’s scarcely room to nibble lunch
I’ll settle for just bread and cheese
Beneath the fragrant apple trees !
I acquired a friend quite recently
Who lives just across the room from me
Whereby my pillow I constant see
His acrobatic activity.
He lives in this house made of thick glass
He makes no noise and doesn’t harass
A more perfect mate one could not ask
Although his presence creates small task.
He requires a meal but once a day
Always remains clear out of my way
Daily the water starts to turn gray
Friday’s the day we flush dirt away.
I still have this friend at my address
I pray he moves soon so I can rest !
HIS NAME IS PHELPS, A BEETA FISH
The moon must be up in the sky
I have this feeling I could cry
But there is nothing wrong with me
Not anything that I could see ?
Perhaps the stars got in my eyes
While I was busy watching skies
Or maybe Venus went astray
In retrograde and lost her way.
This horoscope will have to keep
I think it’s time to go to sleep !
It’s sad to think the world we know
Is packing up, prepared to go
Where are we going I can’t say
I haven’t heard a word today
I’m hoping that it’s not to Mars
Although I’m not opposed to stars
I’d much prefer old Jupiter
Though it is so much gassier !
Long time ago, I was a little tot
There was this cartoon that I loved a lot !
Oh, Popeye once you were a bunch of fun
I laughed at all those silly fights you won
I’d like to know about Miss Olive Oyl
Tell me is she still your favorite girl ?
Popeye, of all the foods you love the best
Does your tin-canned spinach still top the rest ?
What have you done with your old corn cob pipe
You know the one, that pipe you never light ?
I sure am glad that you have hung around
With all of that odd salty seaman sound
My dears for all the smiles I say thank you
To Popeye,Wimpy, Bluto, Sweet Pea too !
Oh can you hear the constant sound
Of weather rageing all around
We’re in the middle of a storm
That’s taken such an ugly form.
I’m glad that I am not outside
The wind might take me for a ride
Although perhaps that could be fun
If only we’d a bit of sun !
Sunlight comes seeping through the blinds
To rest in all the cracks it finds
Its yellow fingers reaching out
To catch those rays that dance about.
The shards of light that move and sway
Examples of the sun at play
I wish that I could hitch a ride
Upon a sunbeam while it glides
And wake up where the sunlight grows
Just as the sun begins its glow !
Each day I wake, I thank the Lord
Because I find I’m still onboard
I’m not too sure if that’s a gift,
Until life’s haze begins to lift
I check to see if I’m all there
My fingers, toes, my face and hair
Both arms and legs are working fine
On a ten scale, I’d guess I’m nine !
There’s a stranger in my parlor
How did he get inside
I thought I heard his noisy chirp
Wherever does he hide ?
Well, never mind the sound he makes
I need to find him how,
The miracle of all of this
He’s in my house right now !
I guess I’ll learn to live with him
What else is there to do
Perhaps one day he’ll say farewell
Goodbye and toodle-loo !
Oh silly goose where have you been
What puddles are you waddling in
Can you reduce that honking noise
Perhaps you could acquire more poise ?
Just love your feathers, oh so soft
That make it to my sleeping loft
Your tiny goslings are so sweet
Tis sad to think, one day they’re meat !
Besides your noisy geese chorus
There is much good you’ve brought to us
With tales from famous Mother Goose
Midst spins of twists and turns unloosed !
Oh how I wish that I could be
A cherry on a cherry tree
I’d wear a gown of frothy pink
As early spring was on the brink
Rains soon would flush my garb away
Uncovering my round display
While time and warmth help me to grow
Soon all my cherry colors glow
And so, my friends when birds arrive
It takes some effort to survive
I’ll make it through to harvest time
Now isn’t that sweet and sublime
Please tell me after you’ve seen me
Am I a top notch bing cherry ?
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 !
These winter days keep hanging on
I really thought the cold had gone
How disappointing that it’s not
I gave it all the push I’ve got
And so we’ll have to tough it out
Of this I’m sure, I have no doubt
That spring is knocking at the door
And brings the change we’re waiting for
Oh what a pleasure it will be
When we are all galoshes free !
A little bird conversed with me
And offered me sweet sympathy
I’m sure he was a cheeky bird
Who whistled many happy words.
I couldn’t understand a one
But listening brought me such fun
He tweeted high, he tweeted low
His messages did stop and go.
Now he and I are on one page
We seem to share the self-same stage
It would be nice if we two could
Speak the same language as most should !
The years just seem to whiz on by
The days are short, the nighttimes fly
Hang on, hang on, don’t get upset
There’s no time left to do regret !
So hoist your sails and carry on
Oh captain, we depend upon
A little kindness here and there
Pickup your spirits, learn to share.
Show God that you will never shirk
Please let Him know that you can work
There’s so much more that needs be done
Let’s spread the word, enjoy the fun !
I love to travel by the train
Note, I don’t mind if plush or plain
Railroad cars are the finest way
If truly seeking getaway.
There’s much to see along the track
On every side, both front and back
Oh such great joy a trip can be
Each ride filled with frivolity !
Sometimes there’s food, sometimes there’s not
But dining cars sure feed a lot
If on your trip you’re going far
There is an observation car.
It’s so much fun to go by train
I can’t wait to do it again !
I wish that you and I could be
Together in eternity
Forever is a long, long time
And can be quite a lonesome climb.
But you and I may truly be
Good partners through infinity
I cannot name another one
Who’d bring such joy and lots of fun.
And so old friend we’ll find much luck
If I’m your daffy, you’re my duck !
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 !
Oh Santa Claus, Santa Claus, where are you tonite
Are you getting ready for early morning flight,
Please be very careful, the elves are working hard
Are you sure that everyone has their own green card ?
Oh Santa Claus, please do try to remember me
And leave some extra kisses on my Christmas tree !
I’d like to be a shiny fish in life’s great big sea
I’d splash and swim all around my seaside fantasy
I’d nibble at the feast with tuna or some cod
Who knows, because I might digest scraps that they discard
Oh how much fun it would be to travel in their stream
And realise even I may share a mermaid’s dream !
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 !
When I was just a tiny child
There was this dish that drove me wild
My favorite soup, can you guess
With flying colors passed the test.
Carrots, celery and parsley too
Were cooked together in a brew
Of chicken stock all warm and bold
So good that I could eat it cold
But the best part, the noodles yet
Were letters of the alphabet.
I tell you now that I still store
A jar of noodles on the door
And when I feel I need a break
Those alphabets are what I make
I’m sure my love of words began
With this great soup homemade not canned !
Aroma wafts up to my nose
It is the smell of oreos
I never thought I’d halt to think
About an odor, smell or stink !
But now I know that this is true
Please take a whiff I beg of you
Incredible how sweet they seem
Care to share an oreo dream ?
( OREO BIRTHDAY NYC 3/6/1912 – 1st SOLD, HOBOKEN, NJ, USA )
Oh little ones do you hear this song
If you know the words, please sing along
Greetings to you on this brand new day
How I wish that we could meet and play !
Do you think the morning sun will show
Or shall we have one more day of snow ?
Perhaps you might add an extra prayer
Please save us from this chill winter air !
We’ll be so grateful to greet the sun
And free at last as we gaily run,
We can stretch our legs and laugh out loud
And savor the joy of springtime’s cloud
If we are lucky the sun will shine
To leave the cold and our cares behind !
The witches dance by firelight
The fires burn throughout the night
Groans and moans enough to spare
Goblins and ghosts float on air !
Children shriek they are afraid
Sleeptime’s rife with nightmares made
I’m glad I’m no longer young
Subjected to childish fun !
Halloween’s just not my style
I’d prefer to laugh or smile !
Our children small
Have questions all,
The simplest one
Will we have fun ?
The answer is
We’ll have a quiz,
I don’t think so
What do we know ?
Let’s play a game
What is my name ?
One wish you get
Are we there yet ?
Ends with a nod
And thank you God !
I’d often thought when I was young
Of all the songs that children sung
As in the morn they’d skip to school
And chant about the golden rule.
These songs were full of magic things
And bursting with imaginings,
Like fairy wings, angelic bells
And pirates gold that time foretells !
A scary bit ’bout Halloween
And “little” folk we have not seen
Or frogs that speak and brooms that fly
A dish and spoon that dance on high !
Oh, how much fun childhood has seen
One might pretend to be a queen
And I could wish for one more chance
To meet my prince and find romance !
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Claire V. Bogdanos 