I smile because my heart can sing
So full it is of God’s blessing
I laugh because my day is sweet
The Lord does guard me from defeat.
I pray because my future’s bright
My faith keeps working day and night
I dream because I hope to be
Included in His ecstacy !
Oh winds that blow where have you been
In your journeys, what have you seen
You have roamed your existence through
What else is there as old as you ?
The winds have blown at God’s command
Since He split water from the land
Old Noah floated with the breeze
Until he saw the tops of trees.
From the beginning to the end
Your power has been our best friend
How wise God was on that first day
He planned our world for work and play
And we who think how smart we are
Have not yet changed just one small star !
As I pulled up my windowblind
To welcome God’s bright warm sunshine
A little bird chirped in so gay
As if to wish me happy day
I laughed at him and tapped the glass
He glanced at me and then flew passed.
This little bird knows paradise
He nests and sings and when he dies
Where e’er he bides woodland or farm,
He leaves no mess and does no harm
His world about will carry on
The job he does is soon passed on !
I envy not your lives to come
Now that my own is almost done
I would not walk this way again
To feel the loss or hide the pain.
I thank our Lord my time has passed
I know not how my heart did last
And move to that which is beyond
Without a will to carry on.
Somewhere within this universe
Bide powers that are too perverse
They creep and crawl and lie in wait
To bar our way through heaven’s gate !
I want to help this is my choice
Though all I have is my small voice
I hope its sound rings clear and true
As what I wish is all for you!
I’ve had this dream that comes and goes
From fingertips to tippytoes
Yet what it means none but God knows.
When I was small and loved to play
I’d splash in water all the day
Closeby the ocean or the bay.
I’ve spent my life beside the sea
It’s where I feel both safe and free
And where my ashes placed will be.
In sleep I hear the ocean’s roar
I sense the gulls that o’erhead soar
And pray that I still hug God’s shore !
What joy it is to see the face
Of one who finishes life’s race
It matters not your rank or place
Just learn to win or lose with grace.
Achievement occupies no space
To try again bears no disgrace
And oh, such pleasure in the chase
As with God’s help one keeps the pace.
There is no stigma can erase
His winning circle we embrace !
This life is mine, from my God a gift
With a book of rules, I’m set adrift
And I must learn long before I die
Which rules I shall observe or defy.
Our God is kind, loving and giving
He requires prayer to earn forgiving
For in the end when there’s no strength left
Who is there to blame for our life’s theft ?
We own the clock in this human race
But none knows where is the other place
So I’ll wait in line with all the rest
To say my prayers and to give my best !
Here’s to the Statue of Liberty
And to this place called land of the free
Despite the crack in Liberty’s bell,
Honor the tale historians tell
Of Revere and his steed’s late night ride
Through this great land of the Pilgrim’s pride,
To patriots who fought in the wars
And gave their lives for this country’s cause
To the young, the feeble and the old
The quick and dead, the brave and the bold
And to our Lord who resides above
For His constant care, enduring love !
This beauty that is God’s to share
Displayed to us from everywhere
Shines brightly like a diadem
Its brilliance sparkly as a gem
For all to see and know who’s king
Of earth and air and everything !
Patriotism is never out of style for me
This is my life, my nature, my identity !
I’ve often thought that people care
Too much about the clothes they wear
And worry over foolish things
Like perfume, body art and rings
While others take great time to choose
Whose signature is on their shoes.
Now when it comes to pick a car
Some folks take things a bit too far
A car’s a chassis on four wheels
In custom color that appeals
It takes us where we want to go
And really must not steal the show.
Tis better far that we agree
The gifts of God to all are free
It matters not how we are clad
But if our hearts are just and glad
To know at last each choice we make
Will please our God is no mistake !
At times I think I’m petrified
My arms all limp, my legs seem tied
I cannot move, I feel like stone
How shall I manage all alone ?
But who’s alone, we live with hope
And learn to seek God’s broader scope
For He is present every hour
And shares with us His awesome power !
I can see fireflies they’re all aglow
It’s curtain time for their magic show
Soon the stars up high begin to light
They flicker and dance and shimmer bright.
When I was small and not yet grown tall
I’d play outside by the garden wall
To catch them buzz and flitter about
Quite a happy sight without a doubt.
As I have aged my memory brings
Pictures that pull upon old heartstrings
It’s too late now to remember when
No one can ever go back again !
Oh blessed Lord please take my hand
And lead me to the promised land
Help me to leave the pain behind
In this new life that’s mine to find.
The freedoms that await me there
From those who taught me how to care
Are worth the price I need afford
To grant me peace as my reward !
As I gaze on assorted flower faces
I’m transported to God’s exotic places
For a world that is crammed with a million dreams
There’s nothing as simple as all truly seems.
While each tiny bud has a life of its own
And breeds healthy seed from genetics unknown,
Can you imagine in a long ago place
Once bloomed some flowers with a daisylike face ?
Or high trellised upon a very tall tree
There clambered up a type of shining ivy
What a happy conclusion and nice surprise
As loving sunflowers did greet each sunrise.
Now I’m sure as I pass through God’s golden gate
There’s lots more to come and I’d hate to be late !
My arms are full, my heart content
I make my way with God’s consent
If I should die with tasks undone
It doesn’t mean I haven’t won !
I hear the voices in my brain
They always chant the same refrain,
“When you fall down get up again”.
I do try hard to close my ears
And banish all my childish fears
One gets so bored of silly tears !
I wish I knew which way to turn
When plans I’ve made get trashed and burn
There’s so much left for me to learn.
I have a long way yet to go
There is a lot that I don’t know
But with God’s help I hope to grow !
It seems that life is, with all its features
God’s perfect world of imperfect creatures,
How shall we learn what perfection can be
Until we share in His eternity ?
This struggle’s old, six thousand years about
You’d have thought by now we’d have worked it out !
When I was young, a wedded bride
I loved my home it was my pride
Soon it was time for motherhood
Expectant life felt as it should.
The love a newborn baby brings
Can warm the heart and give it wings
Each greets the world with that first yelp,
Those early years need all the help.
While in between weighs take and give
One learns to grow and how to live
Seems joy is but the simple way
To judge achievement in our day.
As I do age my needs become
Just one more chore that must be done
And all this wisdom I have learned
Adds to virtues I may have earned.
Here at the end it all appears
Our lives are full of smiles or tears
But who will be the one to test,
The one to know which is the best ?
All through my life I shall recall
Those balmy days that prefaced fall
The flippant breeze that slipped the waves
And carried voices from the graves,
Where are you love, where have you gone
What God is it you wait upon ?
Please tell me will we ever meet
Is death by war the last defeat,
Where is the day we know must come
Will God greet all or only some ?
Sometimes my heart seems to skip a beat
My throat goes tight, unsteady my feet
Searching for reasons what shall I find
Do deeds from the past enthrall my mind ?
Did I waste my time with selfish fun
Do I feel guilt for whatever’s been done,
Is there a rule I’ve refused to heed
Have I failed to help someone in need ?
Perhaps tis now time to readjust
Try to keep smiling, learn how to trust
Think happy thoughts, get on with God’s tasks
Be ready to help when e’er He asks !
Now once upon a time ago
Before the world began to grow
Into the place it has become
With all at war and peace for none,
Are you a global warming buff
Or is your faith in God enough ?
How would you wish for it to be
That all might have immunity
Or better still that you and me
Could till the soil or fish the sea,
This simple life would satisfy
But I’m afraid wars will not die !
In those quiet moments before the dawn awakes
Wherein enlightened thought our passion gently breaks
As we note the seasons and tally up the score
We need seek the reasons that lives must matter more.
Such feelings as we sense shall give us all a pause
For who has faith to carry on without a cause
In spite of legends, promises or holy text
We may not meet again in this life or the next !
There is a celebration here
Tis true release from all my fear
Fear is suspect in all to come
God is my hope thus I fear none !
Bright skies of blue with clouds of white
God’s perfect picture of delight
From azure blue to deep sea green
Painted waters lie in between
While flocks of birds fly overhead,
With sheer emotion left unsaid
True this must be a gift received
That’s far too grand to be believed
I sense the world writhes in defeat
As danger lurks on every street
What else is there for us to fear
The day of judgement drawing near ?
Tis now that we must all align
Our actions into God’s design
We’ll use His words to seek the way
And trace His footsteps every day !
The battlefield’s an ugly place,
Both fear and courage on each face
As terrors of one’s lifetime wait
To learn how each shall meet his fate.
While war is part of history
No generation has been free
And battle scars won’t disappear
Until our Lord does interfere !
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Claire V. Bogdanos 