Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category

“Remembering Cooperstown” (Revised) copyright 2010 John J. Rigo,Upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Posted in Poetry, upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged , , on April 18, 2013| Leave a Comment »

A Winter Scene from Cooperstown, N. Y.

Last year was a visit to the Carrol Clinic in Dallas.
My back and hip had been hurting me for some time.
The findings were not good.
 
A Class Four hip.
A crack in my spine bone.
Two disks in my spine fused together.
 
I knew when it happened.
A fall over ten years ago while attempting to trim a tree
in our front yard.
 
The fall at that time resulted in nine staples in my head
and eventual surgery on my knee.
The other injuries laid in wait.
My future in enjoying the rest of my life was in doubt
with the activities I enjoyed so much in my past.
 
My mind went back to Cooperstown in upstate New York.
I was sixteen and working the summer on a dairy farm.
It was part of the “Fresh Air Program” of New York City for young men.
 
I remembered the rolling hay wagon.
Throwing ninety pound bales of hay
eight tiers high on the wagon.
 
I remembered the muscles in my arms
my strong thin waist
with a tan equal to a black man.
 
We worked hard that Summer.
It was the “Haying Season.”
The work went fourteen hours a day
seven days a week for two and half months.
 
Looking back now
I now realize how really happy I was
each of those summer days in Cooperstown.  

Read Full Post »

"Her Eyes Were Also Brown" copyright 2009 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, "Passion Amidst Apathy"

Posted in Poetry, tagged , , , , , , , , on April 18, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
 

Courtesy of vi.sualize.us

It was an open house of a new resident in the community.
I sat on point near a corner of the room
a kind of observation post of those coming into the room.
 
There you stood looking at me from afar.
There was a blackberry in your hand texting someone.
You came and sat next to me.
 
You asked me if the room seemed warm.
You told me your hands were sweating.
I explained that I got a kind of butterflies when I met new people.
 
I learned through disciple long ago to overcome being uncomfortable.
Forty years in sales changes many things about an individual.
You could not be more than eighteen
brown hair and the deepest of brown eyes.
 
You kept looking a me strangely
like you had always knew me.
A memory came to my mind.
It was my childhood bride of eighteen.
 
You looked very much like her.
Her eyes were also Brown. 
I remembered how I felt about her.
 
I loved her in a special deep way.
There is something about a first love
that always makes it special in memories through life.
 
I saw her in you
the hair
the eyes
the way you smiled at me.
 
We talked of college and your first year.
The difficulties you were having with some of your studies.
You said goodby in a formal way and left.
 
It was like you leaving again.
I think of you often and those early days
in my life that we shared as two lost children together.
 
There always will be something special about you
and those days in my mind
many years ago.
 
Take care my love
wherever you may be this day.
Remember that I still think of you
and yes in my way
I still love you.
 
Related articles

Read Full Post »

"The Question," The Master Series, copyright 2005 John J. Rigo "Rainbows Amidst Storms"

Posted in "Rainbows Amidst Storms" Second Published Book, Poetry, The "Master Series of Poetry", tagged , , , , , , , on April 14, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Courtesy of Google search

 
 
A beautiful day beckoned.
The sides of the hills were golden
with fields of grain. 
 
The Cypress trees were green
among great expanses of gleaming flat rocks.
An ideal day born for the enjoyment of the sun
and the wondrous words of the Master.
 
The crowd began to thin toward the afternoon sunset.
The Master was weary.
Many were the questions of the day.
The answers required much of His strength to loudly speak
the words of wisdom to the crowd. 
 
As the Master prepared to depart
a young man in the crowd shouted a question
in His direction.
  
The Master’s followers tried to quiet the man
to preserve their Lord‘s voice.
They knew He was exhausted from the
long day of preaching.
 
The young man shouted again,
“Master, what can I do in my life that would be
pleasing to my Lord and God?”
In hearing this question
the crowd stopped movement
in their departure.
 
The crowd turned as one toward
where the Master stood.
Raising up to His full height
the Master looked over the crowd
with the kindest of smiles and He said,
 
“The mirrors of your own souls are within the eyes of
your brothers and sisters.
If you see hunger in those eyes around you
break the bread and share it.
 
If you see sorrow
share your tears with your brethren.
If fear overcomes your neighbors
stand with them
for numbers overcome fear.
 
Above all of these
love your neighbor
as you love your children.
My love protects your brethren
as it protects you.
 
This sharing of your love in my Father’s name
will be pleasing to your Lord and God.
In this sharing of your love without reserve
without reward
without a counting
will you be given
the glories of eternity.”
These words were spoken this day 
by the Master of my life.

Read Full Post »

"If I Could Speak the Right Words" copyright 2009 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, "Passion Amidst Apathy"

Posted in Poetry, upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 12, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
 

Courtesy of cthru.com

If I could speak the right words of endearment
would you rush to be at my side?
 
Have we not been seeking the same dream
a dream yet unfounded in our time
upon this world?
 
If I could speak the right words
I would tell you how long I have been seeking you.
 
The space in my heart was never filled by others
for they were not you
my love.
 
If I could speak the right words
they would tell you that I will immediately know
it is you
when you are before me.
 
The moment that our eyes will meet
we will know
we finally found each other.
 
If I could speak the right words of endearment
they would tell you of the eternity that I have spent
in seeking you.
 
A half soul
a lost wanderer
a knight without a grail
have I been.
 
Complete my being.
Awaken at my side
make us one.
 
Never to be alone again
for the eternity
that is still before us.

Read Full Post »

A Banner Day, “Over 37,000 Hits” copyright 2013 John J. Rigo, Texas’ Poet

Posted in A Banner Christmas Holiday Day with Over 34000 hits!, A Banner Day of 37000 hits, A Great WordPress Poetry Site, A Texas' Poetry Site at 36000 hits, Poetry, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on April 2, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Courtesy of umazzing.com

As of April 2nd, 2013, the “Texas’ Poetry Site” reached another milestone of 37,000 plus hits.  My deepest thanks and appreciation to the WordPress family, and all those who share my spiritual poetry work, as well as my Texas’ Commentary posts regarding my community, Texas and the Nation. 

Read Full Post »

"A Conversation about Life and Death" copyright 2005 John J. Rigo "Rainbows Amidst Storms"

Posted in A Blessed Easter to All from John J. Rigo Texas' Commentator, One poem of Seven of the "Masters Series of Poems", Poetry, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on March 31, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
 

Courtesy of aboveandbeyonddautism.blogspot.com

The Master‘s hands were strong and hard
from years of work as a carpenter
just like his father.
 
The creation of His hands had a gentle quality
such as the toy camel and shepherd
He was crafting this night.
 
His sister had begged Him to make a toy for her child.
With love and humor He worked several nights.
In the back of the villa the room was small and cramped
making the carving difficult as the oil lamp light flickered.
 
Entering the doorway with a quiet sweep of the door blanket
came His sister’s oldest son.
Many questions burned in the mind
of this young man on this night.
 
Quietly he approached the Master
so as to not disturb His carving.
The young man whispered,
“Master do you have time to speak with me?”
 
Gently and with love the Master set the little wooden carving
aside and reached for the boy’s shoulder saying,
“What is troubling you this night
son of my sister?”
 
The boy replied,
“I am afraid about death
and where I will go when I die
since no one alive
has ever been to the place that dead people go
and returned
how am I to know what to expect?”
 
With patience and the deepest of kindness
toward the concerns of the young man
the Master spoke,
“Telling humanity of the world beyond death
would be like explaining
the sight of sunrise or sunset to a person
who had always been blind.”
 
He further explained,
“Beyond our lifetime is a world inconceivable
to the senses of man
beyond every gift rendered in this world around us. 
It is a world of being
in the midst of eternal love
and never fearing again.
 
It is knowing light beyond any light
we now know of in this world.
It is never being alone again
but cherished in the arms of a mother.
 
So will it be in the arms of our God
forever in eternal love
peace and happiness.”
So He spoke to me
the Master of my life.  
 

					
Read Full Post »

				

							


		
			

				

					
“Waking Knight” copyright 2012 John J. Rigo, upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

					

					Posted in Another point of view on Heaven, Poem, Poetry, tagged , , , , , , , , ,  on March 28, 2013|
													Leave a Comment »											

				


				

					
 


 


“The Kiss before the Battle with Evil” 
Picture Courtesy of pathguy.com


I awoke


as from a sleep


of death.


 


Long gentle fingers


were rubbing my forehead


the side of my face


touching my lips.


 


As my eyes opened


I knew I was no longer 


on my prior world of earth.


 


Before me I beheld


a beautiful maiden


of golden hair


skin of cream and light


eyes of blue/grey and gold.


 


There was no fear within me.


I was at a place where I was meant to be.


I was home in a castle of my Lord‘s place for me.


 


My eyes gazed upon my body.


Upon me where plates of armour.


Gold-Silver and various jewels


incrusted upon them.


 


As the maiden raised my head


I observed the symbols upon my breast-plate.


In the middle in Gold was a Lion.


 


On each side of it were Dragons


standing with their feet gently 


touching the Lion.


 


Above the Lion


flew a Golden Eagle


with wings of silver.


 


My armour gleamed


from head to toe


in this beautiful creation.


 


What battle has my Lord


prepared for me in this place?


Who was this maiden


who touches me with a loving touch?


 


The maiden spoke,


“My Lord, Evil awaits for battle.


Prepare thyself.”


 


 


 


 

					
Read Full Post »

				

							


		
			

				

					
“The Gift of a Stranger’s Smile” (Revised) copyright 2005 John J. Rigo “Roses Amidst Thorns”

					

					Posted in Are There Angels on the Earth?, Poetry, Poetry From McKinney Texas, Selection from "Roses Amidst Thorns" published in 2005, Texas' Poetry, tagged , , , , , , ,  on March 19, 2013|
													Leave a Comment »											

				


				

					
  


Courtesy AngelsByEve.com


It was one of those days that nothing seemed to be going right.


My mind filled with racing thoughts


going different ways


Questions, questions with seemly no answers


as I pushed through the crowd


of wherever I was going.




Suddenly  in my own world


I looked up


and there you were


passing me ever so quickly.


The smile that you gave me took my breath away.




A stranger’s smile in a maddening world. 


There was such kindness in that smile of yours.


The warmest of feelings overcame me.


Peace and Joy was brought to my racing heart.




Long after you were gone


I tried to remember


what you looked like.


Were your eyes Blue or Brown?


All that remained in my mind’s eye


was the memory of that very special and endearing smile.


A smile that brought a smile to my own lips.




With a nod of my head


I gave thanks and appreciation


for this gift from a stranger.


 


Long after this time


a strange thought came to my mind.


Could angels be walking this earth


to remind each of us


that love can be


the gift of  the day? 


 

					
Read Full Post »

				

							


		
			

				

					
“True Forgiveness” copyright 2011 John J. Rigo, upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

					

					Posted in Poetry, tagged , , , , , , ,  on March 18, 2013|
													Leave a Comment »											

				


				

					
 


 


Courtesy of jennfrancesca.blogspot.com


It was a long time ago that I hear this story about “Forgiveness.”


It was said that when we ask God for forgiveness


then all memory of our sin is totally removed from the memory of God.


 


What a beautiful thought


to think that the creator of everything


can wipe His Eternal Mind of all memory of our transgressions


once we seek His forgiveness.


 


Each day of my life


I am constantly amazed 


in how many claim to follow the Lord.


 


Yet in their daily actions 


as so-called Christians


their hearts are not truly sincere.


 


Remember this day 


to be the Christian you claim to be.


When the one closest to you reviews their past in conversation


please do not take joy in reminding them of their past sins.


 


If God can forgive and forget


then you should also be able to do the same.

					
Read Full Post »

				

							


		
			

				

					
"The Eternal Kiss" John J. Rigo copyright 2005 "Roses Amidst Thorns"

					

					Posted in Poetry, Selection from "Roses Amidst Thorns" published in 2005, tagged , , , , ,  on March 6, 2013|
													Leave a Comment »											

				


				

					
 


 


Courtesy of Favin.com


I kiss thee


with my heart


upon my lips.


 


My breath held


in anticipation


of the moment.


 


Held so long


afraid to take


that next breath.


 


for this magic


overtakes me


in this moment


forever locked


in your embrace.


 


 

					
Read Full Post »

				

							


		
		
« Newer Posts - Older Posts »