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 !
Who’s that knocking at my front door
What do you think he’s looking for
He is all dressed in red and white
Looks like he has been up all night,
Can you guess what has brought him here
It must be all that Christmas cheer
Well let him in we have no choice
It’s time to hear his merry voice !
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 !
Laughter breeds so many joyous things
Your eyes will smile as your heart grows wings
The air feels clean and the dawn glows bright
Because we’ve survived the darkest night.
We have risen to the heights of hope
While rapidly learning how to cope
Our dreams remain a moment away
They are the fruits for another day !
Now that Santa has become quite “passe”
And is no longer hero of our day
What shall we do ’bout Thursday’s roast turkey
With all the trimmings we can wish to see ?
Another thought soon crosses o’er my mind
How will Charlie’s gang, that great pumpkin find ?
So many questions I have yet to ask
Seems my life has become an endless task !
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 !
I hear a rustling in the tree
And wonder now who can that be
See there a flash of mottled coat
A vision of especial note.
Oh precious bird, what do you do
Is there a way I can help you
I wish I had some cracker crumb
I’d be so pleased to feed you some.
But you and I are at loose ends
There seems no way we can be friends
For what you have is your sharp beak
While all I have is tongue in cheek !
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 !
The air is cool, the smell is sweet
The sound of children from the street
Now rises on the morning breeze
Like waves upon the stormy seas.
The silence reigns just now and then
As shreiking laughter once again
Cuts through the air this peaceful day
With joyous noise while children play !
If wishes had wings I’d rise and fly
Across the wilderness of the sky
To meet with the angels in the air
And follow them home to tarry there.
Now angels appear to be quite strong
I am guessing that their lives are long,
Perhaps thousands of years more or less
A great mystery I must confess.
If I have to wait too long to see
I pray they’ll keep their watch over me !
I haven’t seen a cowboy of late upon the scene
There are no cowboy idols as cool as Steve McQueen
There used to be Gene Autry his horse was Champion
Or what about Hopalong with Topper on the run ?
Dale Evans rode Buttermilk, they were the best of buds
While Roy was fond of Trigger along with other studs
Silver was so beautiful, Lone Ranger was top gun
Jay Silverheels on Scout played Tonto, Mohawk “injun”.
If there’s a cowboy heaven full of remembering
I’d love to be a cowgirl, I just refuse to sing !
I do my exercise each day
It helps to keep doldrums away
I speak with God all of the time
He never tires of my rhyme
At least I think He’s not upset
I haven’t had an answer yet !
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 )
Sometimes I think that I might fly
Up to the moon and touch the sky
What would I find once I got there
A cold cold place with thin thin air !
Now that’s not such a happy thought
Imagine all those chills I’d caught
Perhaps I’d settle for a spin
Above this space that I live in
And snuggle up to some warm fire
Until this cold spell does expire !
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 !
How I remember little things
The way the scent of ocean clings
And salt that lingers on one’s lips
Or dreams of trips on sailing ships !
The sound of waves that lash the shore
They whisper you’ve been here before
Days of great joy they can’t return
Their memories shall ever burn !
A heart that’s full with treasure sings
Amidst the pleasure laughter brings
Remembering what used to be
Becomes a lifelong litany !
For some strange reason I awoke this AM with the name NORMANDIE in my head and began a mental odyssey of a cold and windy day in February 1942. It was quite personal because the husband of my old Aunt Rose was the chief engineer of that incredible former French great lady, his name was George Clow. He left his home, his mom and sisters in Glascow, Scotland at age 14 to join the Royal Navy in the 1800’s to see the world ! Which he truly did until he retired at age 75, hash marks on his uniform clear up to his elbows ! He looked quite heroic with a chest full of medals. His tanned leathery face with laughing green eyes and rugged chiseled profile, mouth full of gold and ivory teeth, cut an impressive figure of a man not quite 5′ 6″, not to mention those colorful tattoos that wiggled ! A lovable pixie was he ! Times he would be gone for 2 years, but oh, the ecstasy as he returned laden with gifts for all, from darkest Africa to the mysterious Orient. He enthralled us with the tales of his adventures with that heavy Scottish brogue he never did lose. By the time I was 12 he had traveled the entire world nine times, sending cards from each port including Fiji and the Pitcairn Isles ! It was the 9th day of the month that this noble ship, rechristened the Lafayette, met her fate, sinking on the 10th, the death of an era and tragedy beyond belief ! We watched that NY harbor blaze from the Heights cliffs above HOBOKEN for hours, believing it was sabotage ! Today I still wonder why no one has ever attempted to tell the whole story of her life and death ! Aren’t you curious ? I am ! Sincerely, Claire B.
Those memories that bring a smile,
The touches that make love worthwhile
The words that echo in the night
These are the embers of delight.
The sound of childhood’s rush of glee
With happy laughter bubbling free
Angelic faces shining bright
Reflecting God’s eternal light.
These are essentials to request
As life at hand survives the test
We will be saved and kept from harm
There in the crook of God’s left arm !
If I ask you do you love me
Will you tell me the whole truth,
Will you deal with me politely
Can you offer me some proof ?
In this world of indecision
It’s impossible to know
What will be the right conclusion
Should I stay or do I go ?
Now I’ve thought about this nightly
And considered all the doubt
I’ve decided to pack lightly
Bid goodbye and mosey out !
The saddest day I do recall
It came about late in the fall
I was a child that long ago
What caused it all I do not know.
The day was calm the air was sweet
With burning leaves along the street
The Yuletide was not far away
My thoughts ran wild for Christmas Day.
I had a friend ( she used to be )
She shared with me in secrecy
And told me Santa was a fake
I thought my heart would surely break.
Now that I’m old I comprehend
My world did not come to an end
But rather know when I am sad
I search for reasons to be glad.
We need to fill our lives with glee
Remembering that laughter’s free !
The candles in the window, the frost clings to each bough
The holly climbs the lamppost, the weather’s colder now
Tis time for sweaters, muffs and gloves and season’s merry glee
Yet with each falling snowflake my thoughts drift back to thee.
I hear the Christmas carol they sang that Christmas Day
And all of this it happened to someone far away.
This season brings to many a hope of untold joy
To me it means a memory time refuses to destroy.
I saw you first that Christmas Day and knew it had to be
That I should fall in love with you and you in love with me.
Fate seemed to speak to both of us the selfsame words we heard
I saw the laughter in your eyes my heart held every word.
Though slow to speak as then you were, I waited one long year
My hopes began to crumble as that Christmas time drew near.
This time you did not fail me, my dream at last came true
You loved me my beloved as much as I loved you.
The joy we knew that Christmas will never come again
In vanished in the springtime in the mist and foggy rain.
And so again each Christmas when the snowflakes gently fall
It’s the time of sweet remember not the parting I recall
And I say to you my darling, wherever you may be
That you think of me at Christmas if you ever think of me.
I should hope that you remember not the springtime and its rain
But the love and tender kindness not the sadness and the pain
Not the years of endless waiting and the promises untold
But the laughter and the happiness that remembering doth hold.
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Claire V. Bogdanos 