I’ve wandered down on memory lane
Hoping to visit old friends again
Trying to recall what used to be
Traveling back in my memory
So many shadows along the way
Of all we have met here day by day
Celebrate occasions one by one
From early morn till each day is done !
The fireplace flickers as the fire glows
It warms the fingertips and the toes
Too soon the winter will settle here
And stay with us till the end of year.
We’ll learn to laugh though it turns quite chill
While there’s no chance it could change our will
For who doesn’t love the old fireside
When winds blow hard and it’s cold outside ?
Oh dearest Lord, what shall I do
My stay on earth too soon is through
I leave my love and heart behind
For family and friends to find.
But if I’m gone and no one’s there
Who will be left to truly care,
I pray that you remember me
With kindness and simplicity.
My closing thought regarding this
To seal my word with one last kiss
I charge you now for all times sake
This is a promise I shan’t break !
A little bit of humor, her smile to show she’d dare
The sound of laughter on our ears floating in the air
A tiny piece of heaven for every one to share
Today’s my mother’s birthday and oh, how much I care !
There are these photos on the wall
Of folks I barely know at all
There’s a few I had never met
And others that I shan’t forget.
Familiar faces from the past
All precious images that last
As life once was, grateful to see
When all were young and used to be !
We’ll miss you love, when you have gone
And seek God’s strength to carry on
Twill be so strange as in this case
We’ll ne’er again meet face to face.
Nor shall we ever ” tete a tete ”
As soon we may tend to forget
How much we pray for one last kiss
Too late we all have been remiss !
Sometimes I dream ’bout long ago
And all the joys we used to know,
I miss that world so very much
Too sad we couldn’t keep in touch.
Seems now as though I’m in the past
Perhaps one that’s surviving last
Oh how I wish that I might spend
A day or two among my friends.
Well I’m no fool, that is a fact
We cannot bring the old times back
And need to bargain for much less,
Let’s settle for a huge God bless !
Oh foul device and evil intent
Of those whose motive to harm was meant
With all of our tears that have been spent
God with purpose our lives reinvent !
My heart got lost so long ago
How that occured I cannot know
It was that war, I often think
That took our values to the brink
The young, the old, the in-between
Not one of us escaped the scene
It hollowed out each living thing
And in our lives did chaos bring
We took the test and some did win
Although too many were done in
And there were those, ones that I saw
Who ne’er returned forever more
Oh Lord I wish I could forget,
I haven’t mastered that trick yet !
…………………………………………………….
*( MEMORIES OF WORLD WAR II )
Why can’t I remember or recall
All those precious times when I was small
When I sat upon my daddy’s knee
As he held me tight and talked to me ?
These memories are melting away
Just like my life, drip by drip each day
Oh what I’d give to capture it all
Sweet memories from when I was small !
The air is sweet with salted breath
It rises from the ocean’s depth
The summer storms have blown away
And left us this vacation day
The wind has slipt among the trees
Suggesting life is well at ease.
Some days are perfect, some are not
Some days remembered, some forgot
I hope one day to chance recall
That moment summer morphed to fall !
We live in dark and dangerous days
Beware of those preaching foreign ways
Remain steadfast to God’s own commands
Avoid the teaching of new demands.
The day expected is soon to come
Keep hold of your faith with its wisdom
God speaks to us and we must adhere
For His judgement day is too soon near !
When I grew up life was so hard
There were no swing sets in the yard
And baby sitters were unknown
Your parents left you home alone
There were no bathrooms in the house
You took the path to an outhouse.
We never minded that at all
Although at times I thought I’d fall
Into that abyss in the ground
Without a hope of being found
That’s how I learned to be so brave
Like all the candles I still save.
Yet life was real and full of hope
One didn’t in the darkness grope,
It made us strong and very wise
Our world was full of great surprise.
God gave us will to make a choice
To use our hands and heart and voice.
The stoves were big and black and bold
And kept us warm through winter cold
Each family had an icebox
No TV but a small voice-box
We cherished it, both girl and boy
Those days of old were full of joy !
I hear their voices calling me
Out of a past that used to be
So long ago and faraway
That unspeakable yesterday.
I was quite young how could I know
I lost my childhood quickly though
The words I heard, I can’t forget
At times I’m sure they echo yet
And temper all my actions still
I am convinced they always will !
Oh blessed Lord how the heart does sing
With all the bliss of remembering
The sweetest song of each nesting bird
That even angels in heaven heard,
As the hopeful times of yesterday
Merge hearts that are free to laugh and play
Ere the dark descends from up above
To scatter dreams of remembered love !
Oh those men who took the hill that day
In a foreign land so far away,
Too many died as they gained the beach
A thousand drowned weighted in the breach.
Who knew what strengths would fill all these men
When courage chose to inspire again
And charge the hill filled with fire and brim
Like hell’s front gate at volcano rim ?
While the memories still haunt their nights
With death’s dark vision midst blinding lights,
What’s wrong with this world in which we live
When is time ripe to learn to forgive ?
Oh for the days of auld lang syne
And friends we’ve lost or cannot find
We knew such joy and made great plans
The dreams we shared traversed all spans.
Though others fell beside the way
We managed to get through each day
But truth to tell it’s not the same
Sometimes I can’t recall a name.
I see the face and note the scent
I don’t remember where it went
There is a void left in my heart
This empty space since your depart !
The angel tears fall all around
They sigh as each drop hits the ground
While heaven’s angels softly cry
The darkened times echo their sigh.
Can you guess why it seems so sad
This day recalls the death He had
Reminding us the hope that’s given
By our blest Lord as He has risen !
Those images that I recall
So long ago when I was small
My father’s laugh, my mother’s smile
Sweet memories held by a child
The smells, the sounds that filled the air
The joyous times that we all shared.
Oh how grown up it was to be
Included in their company
Such love held fast both now and then
And glowed as I remember when !
If I were a rainbow my home would be the sky
You would see my colors if mist were passing by
The sun must be behind if you’re to catch the glow
There through tiny raindrops it’s time to see the show.
Only seven colors the spectrum is complete
Oh what a sight to show majestic and so sweet
And such a great reminder that God is ever there
Keeping every promise that we were meant to share !
My heart would pace a million miles
To catch one glimpse of your sweet smiles
And wait for days upon a line
To learn that you were doing fine !
I miss you still and always will
Like all the plans we can’t fulfill
Until the sun deserts the sky
The moon and I bid sweet goodbye !
At times I wonder why it’s so
The ones we love must come and go
But ever live within our hearts
We miss them all as each departs.
I understand the reason why
The pain of loss gives cause to cry
Remaining still devout with care
Although they are no longer there.
Somehow we learn to be quite strong
To keep our tears where they belong
And paste a smile upon our face
Remembering that last embrace !
I wish I were an hour glass
That holds the precious sand of time
Then I’d control the way days pass
And that would be my wish sublime !
I’d find a way to slow the sand
So time cannot just slip away
And it will seem alright and grand
For us to share this one last day !
Forgotten there upon the floor
Hair ribbons littered by the door
The smell of aftershave so sweet
It taints the taste of breakfast treat.
With crumpled socks all in a heap
Next to the sheets from last night’s sleep
A sorry mess that waits for care
Beside the dresser on the chair.
Because we have a mission here
That visits us just once a year
Our nation’s birth we’ll celebrate
No matter what we shan’t be late !
I have searched in vain for a special place
In which to occasion my last embrace
In my mind remains, after many years
How my dear grandma shed her final tears !
Her words to me I shall never forget
As she said her goodbyes with no regret
Though but a child I remember her still
And I love her now and forever will !
In truth, I haven’t forgotten her face
Or the strength of her courage, help and grace
For the child I was, she taught me to be
Honest and fair giving, loving and free,
She spoke with her God day and night
Was angelic in her apron starched white
She lived in that house I’ve told you about
No running water and toilet without.
She left her heart and her dreams behind
And whispered her secret that I might find
Whatever I prayed for would come to be
Especially God keeping watch o’er me !
( SHE JOINED THE ANGELS 7/20/1936 )
Oh Lord, walk with me, we’ll go hand in hand
Across that sad beach in some foreign land
Our journey is swift, return we may not
But that long ago day can’t be forgot.
While the time fades away into the past
The lesson we learned is one that won’t last
Just turn around to observe where we are
Sadly you’ll see that we haven’t come far !
I heard the bells last Christmas Day
And all the hymns carillon played,
I thought about the stories told
When I was young, not quite so old,
And pray the children that I meet
Remember well and will repeat
Sweet memories that change has cost
Tradition gone beliefs we’ve lost,
Time to revive the olden days
Returning to those golden ways !
Tis Christmastime, it’s here once more
The folks we love rush through the door
We greet them all with happy face
They’re all decked out in tweeds and lace !
We’ll dine and open gifts en masse
We’ll hug and kiss and take a glass
Of Yuletide nog or maybe beer
To wish us all the best of cheer.
Along the way we may recall
The reason that we’ve gathered all,
It’s not about the gifts and things
It is the message this day brings !
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| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
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| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
Claire V. Bogdanos 