There is no way I’ll ever see
The budding days of infancy
Or travel in the path of ways
That haunted all my childhood days.
My youth was spiced with sacrifice
The age was cruel, not often nice
Its road was long I met defeat
But managed to land on my feet !
Alone that journey was too hard
That’s when I turned my face to God
He held my hand all through the years
He owns my life both smiles and tears,
I’ve no regrets left to remain
If I don’t pass this way again !
A welcome voice the new year brings
As earth and sky and heaven sings
And promises each one more try
To test our wings and learn to fly
Keep heart and mind and faith in sight
So you may join angels in flight !
Remember what it’s all about
Proceed to live without a doubt
Our God is there forever true
Trust that He does look after you !
There is a God He sees it all
How many truly heed his call
We know this God He hears quite well
But oh, the stories He could tell !
For those which think we hidden are
Will glow as brightly as a star
There is no secret left undone
Our God is privy to each one !
Great fools we are to think we’re free
There is no deed He does not see
The price we’ll pay with vig will grow
Depending on the love we show !
I still remember Christmas Day
That little church seems far away
I miss the sound of choir sing
Sweet children’s voices caroling.
Pleasant whispers from the vestry
The kindly way things used to be
Just a piece of celestial air
Around the bend and up the stair,
One short step that’s not too much more
We are outside of Heaven’s door !
The beauty of
Our Christmas love
Comes from its length
And brings us strength.
Two thousand years
To quell our fears
And help us heal
The loss we feel.
Oh blessed Lord
We’re in accord
We’ll stand with you
Forever true !
The story’s old we know it well
It never grows too old to tell
For those who heard it new today
Its wonder will not fade away
But grows and grows within the heart
To soon become a vital part
Of how we live and what we think
Since this old world stands on the brink
The time is now to make the choice
Take courage here to raise your voice
And sing the praise we need to hear
As our dear Lord must soon appear !
The angels who abide above
Our guardians of peace and love
Wise messengers who keep the watch
They check the list and make a notch.
They are the voices in our ear
And thoughts that wing us happy cheer
I do not think they’re all the same
Who knows if each one has a name.
Do angels come in girl and boy
I’d like to learn what they enjoy
The angels sing they save the day
I pray they never go away !
The children laugh, they run and play
For soon it will be Christmas Day
A holiday for one and all
Our Santa seems to heed the call !
I think his image tries to be
A joy to all of those who see
Race and religion play no part
It’s all about a kindly heart
It has to do with sharing things
And happiness that giving brings !
My memories are haunted by
Some faces seen with my mind’s eye
These persons from the distant past
True images that ever last
They’re so clear now I want to touch
I’m sad because I’ve missed them much !
How can it be aft all these years
That my heart’s full of unshed tears
What I would give for just once more
Their oldtime step at my front door !
There was a child born long ago
In time He grew to be a man
He had great qualities you know
He’d help in any way one can.
He never travelled very far
His life was poor and simple then
He rode a donkey not a car
He healed the sick and preached to men.
He turned the water into wine
And spoke to thousands by the sea
He hoped that they would stand in line
To follow Him and baptized be.
His death was truly quite a sight
The trial before the Sadducees,
When on that hill it turned to night
Fulfilling all the prophecies.
He did not live to be so old
He even spent some time in Hell
And to this day His story’s told
His name is called Immanuel !
The pain’s intense, I can barely breathe
It is too strange what we each believe,
While discipline has been my guide
I’ve kept God’s word close by my side.
It helps me face the hurt with calm
And aids me to reduce alarm
I truly beg the ache will cease
That I may find some blessed peace !
There are these rifts along the way
With highs and lows that cause delay
But as I read His Holy Book
I know that I’ve not been forsook !
Oh blessed Lord come hear my plea
And raise me up from bended knee
Please take my hand and walk with me
And when I die please set me free !
Some souls get locked into infinity
Their long goodbyes lost to obscurity !
I dare not teach you how to live
Or how much of yourself to give
I only know what I’ve been taught
That self respect cannot be bought.
To feel so good and love the Lord
To follow Him with one accord
Accept that He is always near
I’m not afraid for He is here !
I said a prayer the other day
Help me to find a better way
To love my God and do His work
This is my wish I will not shirk,
That I must always humble be
If God should deign to walk with me.
Make truth and peace the goals I seek
In manner mild both kind and meek
I thank the Lord for all these gifts
This joyous heart His spirit lifts !
To those of you who read my stuff
I’ve no way to thank you enough
It makes me glad to think you care
It’s such a fragile world out there
So filled with loss and grief and pain
I will not come this way again !
Unless of course we have a change,
The present management is strange
I’d like to ask for their recall
Remembering I love you all !
The children that we leave behind
Aft we are gone away to find
That final place wherein we rest
There wait for those who ace the test
Thus be prepared to take the helm
Into their care within their realm !
We need the young to learn the task
And seek restraint within their grasp
To value faith keep God in mind
With open heart and bias blind
Reach out to those who hunger much
Receive God’s care and gentle touch !
Sweet Jesus smiled and took my heart
He gave my life a brand new start
There is no way I shall regret
The truth I’ve learned and won’t forget.
His patience lives forever here
He brings me joy and love and cheer
Each morn I wake and greet the day
I cannot wait my thanks to say !
For life is sweet, but sweeter still
Are dreams of hope time will fulfill
In God’s new world that’s yet to be
A world that brings eternity !
EXCUSE me, in the past weeks I have had another one of my inconvenient strokes, 28 or 29, I can’t remember ! So I followed my routine, packing my trusty bible and necessities in a small bag as I checked into the ER of the Hoboken University Medical Center on Third Street where I am a frequent flyer since 1978. I’ve had 2 major strokes, 3 DVT’s, and sundry TIA’s which help explain both my wheelchair and passion for prayer ! My experience at this former Franciscan Facility has managed to be a bright spot in an otherwise frightening environ for many years. However I really do miss the old nuns who were an integral part of the staff since the hospital’s inception in 1863. (Civil War). Now that the last of the nuns, Sister Theresa, has been permanently transferred to the Motherhouse Retirement Home out of state, an era has come to an end ! She was a longtime acquaintance, sorely missed, who referred to me as Phil Casella’s friend ( he being a 3rd order Franciscan )! I’ve been okay with that recommendation ! We’ve been friends for almost 40 years, and known to most as Mrs. B. since my family and I fed Hoboken for mega years and that included clergy, doctors, police, fire fighters, Maxwell House, politicians, Stevens Institute, Tetley Tea, Hostess Cake, Continental Can to mention a very few ! Who remembers historic HOBOKEN House ? The staff at Hoboken Hospital is a true Americana mix, Hispanic, Indian, Filipino, Sihk, Czech, Russian, Korean, Asian, Irish, Greek, Italian, Black to name a few ! First time I needed St. Mary was spring 1957 when my son Matthew suffered severe skull fracture, successfully treated by my hero the late Dr. Sam Critedes ! This is a very busy place with 1st floor heroes Geraldine, Alba and Barry, et al, knowledgeable and caring. The ER has both Ria, Maria, Jason and scads of others deserving kudos for their attention and concern. I am fond of the staff on the 4th floor ( monitors only ) HaHa ! Where Charlotte, Amos, Minnie, Pattie, Diana, Paolo hold sway ! Mustn’t forget dietitians, kitchen staff and others who cook once-over-easy to die for ! Well I’m home now recuperating and forever grateful to all of those great professionals ! Thanks a lot ! Sincerely, Claire B.
I’ve wandered in this distant place
And seen the fear that strangers face
I wondered how the human race
Could live and work midst such disgrace !
I can’t accept that they should be
Lost victims of indignity
To bear all this with family
And have no exit strategy !
Instead of blasting music loud
And sidewalk lounging in a crowd
Strive hard to make your children proud
Reach out to God, your faith avowed !
A child of God he walked my way
I bid him come he could not stay
The lamb he held its fleece was white
The coat it glistened in the night
Where do you go with tethered lamb,
“To find out who it is I am
With this my gift to sacrifice
I beg my God give his advice
Long time ago I learned that He
Forever was my destiny !”
When I think about all the old tales that I’ve told
I remember my aunt with the heart of spun gold
As she and great grandma shared the same tiny bed
I’d often thought they should use a pull-out instead !
When the mail would arrive we sure got a big thrill
For each card that she sent held a five dollar bill
She wrote penny postcards to us all every week
No one had a home phone upon which we could speak.
That way we could know just how the family was
As we lacked the means to give each other a buzz
Well by now it’s too late and I’m left all alone
How I wish I could call them today on God’s phone !
The wind moves gently through the trees
And strums a tune sweet as you please
Some melody the angels sing
When joining in a gathering.
The heart can hear what ears cannot
Remembering what’s been forgot
Sweet memories long lasting are
They reach from earth to touch the stars !
The God I know is just and fair
Enfolding us in loving care
He’s kind and good and always there
Accepting of our smallest prayer !
I hear the songs of angels clear
Their phrases falling on my ear
All through the day into the night
Their voices raised so clear and bright
The promise of great joy to come
Inviting all not only some.
I’d like to stand in that long line
With wishes that we’ll turn out fine
I pray I have the strength to wait
And beg of God I’m not too late !
There is a God we know He cares
He waits for us somewhere upstairs
I’m not so sure that it’s a rush
We mustn’t make too big a fuss !
We know He will not go away
It’s really us who tend to stray
We’ll guide our lives as best we can
And thank our Lord with heart in hand !
I had a great aunt she was Olga by name
Her generous nature, the root of her fame
I was told she was born in May eighty-eight
Although it seems that no one knows the right date !
She had the same job for the whole of her life
Sadly she never became anyone’s wife
Though it was not because she had not found love
But the boy she admired was not approved of !
Her Rudy he worked as the baker downstairs
While she sold his bread from the counters up there
Her mama, she followed the old fashioned ways
Dictating to Olga for all of her days !
I know that lives were so different back then
I’m sorry that she died a childless woman
But she brought so much joy to all of us girls
What a blessing she was with her Marcel curls !
She bought us those gifts that no one could afford
Hats, coats and shoes from Mister Macy’s big store
And took us to places we only dreamed of
She filled all our cups with her unselfish love !
I’m sure I heard an angel voice
Reminding me I had no choice
That soon their choir needed me
To join in this epiphany !
I know that it’s a magic time
Rewarding us with joy sublime
Inviting all to hum along
Part of the chorus of His song !
I wish my voice was not so old
And that my hopes have not grown cold
In spite of this I’m glad to share
Our God’s sweet love and gentle care !
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Claire V. Bogdanos 