See sunlight streaming through the trees
While leaves are swaying in the breeze
The morning air’s so fresh and cool
The rising sun shines like a jewel
Oh what a great day this will be
A gift from our own Diety,
God bless us all as we arise
Let’s pray this day’s full of surprise !
I hear the whistle of the train
Its echo seems to fill my brain
My heart, it races o’er the track
My toes tap out ” clickety – clack ” .
How I do love the chugging sound
As each train covers so much ground
It’ s fun to carry on this race
From town to town and place to place !
Can you hear the rain as it pelts down
Raining so hard all the worms may drown
Midst streams of water hitting the ground
Like rivers pushing the leaves around ?
Oh, what a day that today has been
With rain pouring down windows and trim
There’s a storm outside we can’t let in
Lest we raise the sash to ask it in !
Whenever I think of the past
And ships that skimmed o’er oceans vast
They traversed round the world they knew
Adventurous, historic too.
Oh how I wish that I had known
This world before it was all grown
Think what a hoot it might have been
To be there when it did begin !
Let’s raise our hopes for time to come
And praise the Lord for all He’s done
Thank God above for all His care
And willingness for us to share.
I’d like to think that God is near
To stifle every single fear
And keep us all upon our toes
Doing the best that each one knows !
AMEN.
The snow is drifting to the ground
Its destinations to be found
The air’s so fresh and wet to touch
Creating visions, scenes and such
The snow is drifting into piles
Where e’er you turn, the world still smiles
Oh what a joy that all may see
God’s generous diversity !
The cold slips in beneath the door
And shimmies fast across the floor
Leaving behind a lasting chill
As icy fingers often will.
No matter where it is I go
I am no fan of frost or snow
And wish I had a magic wand
To shoo the cold to places yon
What bliss t’would be to bide somewhere
That warmth is free and everywhere !
Oh blessed Lord, please hear my plea
And save a piece of sky for me
A dusky eve or starlit night
Perhaps a rainbow’s sweet delight.
And for your pleasure, I will raise
A song of love and joyous praise
Come join me Lord and hear me pray
That you’ll take me with you to stay !
I watch the stars fade in and out
So patiently, night after night
And wonder why they’re so devout
And why they shine so clear and bright.
Sometimes I fear that cannot last
For even stars fall out of sight
Oh, what an image they have cast
With their eternal blinking light !
Today we rose to sunny skies
While not expecting some surprise
The winds that blew seemed well behaved
Tree limbs and branches all were saved.
Soon autumn will reach our front door
And summer breeze will blow no more
Before too long the year shall pass
Like shadows in the looking glass
Oh Lord, give all the pow’r to rise
Once more to sight sweet summer skies !
Now you and I have been around
Among these feelings we have found
Though they are not of wide import
Somehow we’ve managed to have caught
This glow that captures happiness
And triumphs love o’er great success
For life is more than what it seems
It’s smiles and hopes and all our dreams !
Red, fuscia, purple, lime and green
These are the colors to be seen
With yellow, orange, pink, white, blue
To celebrate the springlike view,
Around the corners, every shade
And tint of green the Lord has made.
A myriad of colors bright
To lighten up each local sight
How did the Lord know long before
The beauty of His world decor ?
We thank You, Lord, for this Your gift
You sure know how to spirits lift !
The wind, it whispers in the breeze
And blows its breath into the trees
It sings a song of joyousness
That’s gathered in the robin’s breast.
The mockingbird sounds crisp and curt
He does not wish a songbird hurt
And mimics all he can, but still
He stops short of the whip-poor-will,
You’ll hear the chorus of each bird
It is the best I’ve ever heard !
The world outside’s pristine and white
A sparkling, glistening joyous sight
There’s not a single moving thing
That to each surface snow won’t cling.
All silence shouts with one accord
Let’s take a moment to afford
God’s challenge that He brings to us
In life and times too glorious.
How little do we know or care
About this heritage we share
For all we love is there to see
The power of His majesty !
When I was but a child of three
My nana made costumes for me
Because I danced upon the stage
At such a very early age.
It was the time of childhood stars
And “black and whites” bout men from Mars
Now my grandpa, he sure could tap
He’d dance till dawn if people clapped.
It seemed so natural to me
To imitate what I did see
For years I danced my heart away
And if I could, I would today !
AT THE AGE OF 2 ( 1933 ) I BEGAN TAP LESSONS WITH
THE SWIFT SISTERS ON WASHINGTON ST. HOBOKEN, NJ
MY SISTER ( 9 YEARS YOUNGER ) STUDIED WITH BEN
BLUE AND RUBY KEELER AT JOURNAL SQUARE, J.C. STUDIO
ALL MY SONS STUDIED WITH BETTY BYRD HOCTOR IN
HOHOKUS, N.J. FOR THEIR EARLY YEARS AND MOVED ON TO
FRED KELLY’S STUDIO ON KINDERKAMACK ROAD IN ORADELL
FOR ADVANCED LESSONS. HE WAS GENE KELLY’S BROTHER !
THEY ALL DANCED AND STILL DO !
The winter chill returns once more
As reckless waves crash on the shore
The eagle nests in heaven’s skies
As snowflakes fall before one’s eyes.
The winter has too soon begun
Make way anon for frozen fun
Unpack your muffler, hood and ski
Tis now the hour for snowtime glee.
Enjoy as days all fade so fast
Note, even winter scurries passed
As we prepare for spring’s encore
To be life’s cycle evermore !
Mocking bird, mocking bird sing me a song
Keep me amused through this afternoon long
Oh sweetest of sounds, please show me the rest
Sing me those melodies I love the best !
Old winter is around the bend
Not long before the year does end
The weather seems much colder now
Sure it will be alright somehow
We’ll bundle up and drink some cheer
And beg of God a great new year !
WITH MARSHMALLOWS TOO !
Whatever I am, dear Lord, I know
I owe it to You, You’ve made it so
You are the stars and the skies they’re in
With clouds above at Your every whim.
The rainbows we glimpse with color bright
A moon o’erhead on the starlit night
You are the dreams we are waiting for
The hopes and wishes and plans galore
That do fill our hearts and minds with glee
And create Your world this sight to see.
The birds and trees, the flowers that bloom
Assorted odors filling each room
The snow and rain, the wind as it blew
All of our treasures are gifts from You !
OUT OF CHAOS, ORDER. AMEN.
The beauty of this world so much beyond compare
The joy of God’s magnificence we’re meant to share,
The pleasure to be seen by all of those who care
Remembering His love it always will be there !
One lonely heart beats in this breast
Will I find joy in what comes next
Since any move that I chance make
Could mean to me just more heartache ?
I do not think that I shall last
If life does not small pleasures cast
The lonely path is not much fun
Tis better far to have someone !
I relish the thought that God loves me
And ponder o’er this quite carefully
I’ve come to the conclusion that He
Is the boss of all eternity !
The early stillness fills the air
With signs of calm we all may share
Oh shall our Lord in truth forbear
And cram each day with love to spare !
I’ve put away my childhood fears
Remembering those tender years
There are so many ways I fall
One day I shan’t get up at all !
I try so hard to walk erect
It is the pose that I select
Lord, how I wish I had the strength
To live my life to its full length.
It’s what I have been working for,
To tread the stairs or walk the floor
Oh, what a pleasure it would be
To dance once more in victory !
I’d often thought how great ‘twould be
If all God’s children could feel free
And how improved our lives would seem
With each endowed to chase their dream
Another chance to reach the goal
Which is the anchor of one’s soul
While God to us His treasures bare
In hopes that all may pleasures share !
One thing I’ve learned and must never forget
That here in my path is a challenge yet
There is too much to see and much to do
Before my turn here on this earth is through !
I’d like to be a shining star
Whose light did twinkle from afar
Oh what great fun that it would be
If little children wished on me !
I’d like to be a chapel bell
That every day the hour must tell
From faraway you’d hear the chime
That’s how you knew what was the time !
But better still I wish that I
Had angel wings so I might fly
To greet you all at Peter’s gate
Just to make sure you aren’t late !
The sadness of this life I see
Is absence of one thing that’s free
No matter where it is I’m at
The world about is sad and flat.
Those faces that are all around
Are full of darkness or a frown
The answer’s simple and worthwhile
How lovely if they’d share a smile !
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Claire V. Bogdanos 