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“What Could Be More Important?” copyright 2011 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Posted in Poetry, upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged , , , , on February 11, 2012| Leave a Comment »

What could be more important in this life

than knowing you truly made a difference?

Knowing you brought love to others

encouragement to others

laughter and joy to others

especially when darkness was about in their lives. 

What could be more important

than sharing the wonderful news of the Love of the Lord

for us all?

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

Posted in Poetry, upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged , , on February 11, 2012| 1 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.  

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“The Return Dread of Cancer” copyright 2012 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Posted in Poetry, tagged , , , , , on January 1, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 
 
 

"Parked in Doctor's Slot at Cancer Treatment Center"

She is a two-time breast cancer survivor.
This dreaded disease lingers over her life each day.
Now in her senior years
she faces the lost of dear friends each day.
 
Each death of a friend by cancer brings back the fear to her.
Each similar pain suffered by cancer 
when shared by those who passed on
brings the horror that this may be a return
of the dark horror.
 
Her anger with the medical profession increases each day.
Billions of dollars have been spent in research over the years
yet the treatments are as backward as cave times.
 
Parked in the Doctors Slot of the cancer treatment center
is a Rolls Silver Cloud Convertible.
Its shiny green color
speaks of the monies that were drained from her body
as the fluid of death was put into her veins.
 
Cannot this horror of death
be destroyed
that takes us from our loved ones?

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"Beyond Pain and Into Love Again" copyright 2005 John J. Rigo "Roses Amidst Thorns"

Posted in Poetry, Texas' Poetry, tagged , , , , , , , , on July 24, 2011| 1 Comment »

 
 

Courtesy of kelihasablog.wordpress.com

When such pain goes beyond

metal against metal

pushing and tearing

beyond the tolerances of strength.

 

 

Truly oh what passion

lies within thee

when finding release again

in one who will truly love you again

in the truth of their spirit and heart.

 

Heart be still

mind be of strength

love awaits.

This time to carry you beyond

the eternal doors of joy and happiness.

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"Words Upon My Stone" excerpt from "Roses Amidst Thorns" copyright 2005 by John J. Rigo

Posted in Poetry, tagged , , , , , , , , on March 18, 2011| 4 Comments »

 
 
Arlington

Courtesy of Arlington

Someone asked me once
what I wanted to be
when I finally grew up.
 
I said to them, “Let me be a poet
with words that are never forgotten
in my journey of life.
 
Let my journey be one of joy
discovered in sorrow
to all of those who read my words.
 
When death finally enters my door
a special note upon my stone
I request be placed in memory of me
upon an earth that I visited
for a short time.
 
Let the words in simple chiseled letters
read thusly, ‘He was not a simple man
for God did not make him so.
He only wanted to be simply known
as a poet.
 
 
 
 
 

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“They Don’t Make Men Like Joe Anymore” copyright 2010 John J. Rigo, selection from upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Posted in Poetry, Texas' Poetry, tagged , , , , , on February 20, 2010| 1 Comment »

Joe passed away on February 12th, 2010.
It was after the record snow storm of February 2010.
The power went out in their home.
 
He and is wife, Christine were moving into temporary
quarters in the New Comfort Inn of Mabank, Texas
when he quietly passed on.
Joe would have been 81.
 
Joe was a sweet, loving and very kind man.
He loved McKinney, Texas.
Whenever he spoke of McKinney
his face took on a glow of peace,
his childhood, his friends, his memories
were many of those days in McKinney.
 
There was a deep longing in his voice
for some of those memories.
Some of those memories were with extreme joy,
while others seemed to carry regret.
 
As with all of us,
one could not have lived a full life
without a certain amount of regret.
 
I will miss Joe
and our talks,
when he sat down with us to visit
at the “Seasons” restaurant in Mabank, Texas.
 
Joe was proud of his wife Christine.
Joe loved Christine
with the deepest of love.
 
I myself, only have one regret
that I did not have more time
to know Joe Burton even more.
 
People like Joe are very special humans.
Sadly in this day and age
there are not enough
special people
to go around
for us all. 
 
 

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