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Archive for the ‘Selection from “Roses Amidst Thorns” published in 2005’ Category

"Blessings, A Special Gift” A Thanksgiving Poem (Revised) selection from "Roses Amidst Thorns” copyright 2005, John J. RIgo

Posted in A Thanksgiving Poem, Selection from "Roses Amidst Thorns" published in 2005, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 21, 2012| 1 Comment »

Taken Sunrise on Black Friday, November 25th 2011 in Gun Barrel City on Cedar Creek Lake in Texas at OZ our lakehome

The following poem from my first published book, has been a favorite  poem for many years.  It has been republished several times in the Dallas Morning News, The McKinney Courier Gazette, and various major web sites.  From my family to yours, our best wishes and blessings.  

Over the last year, I am especially appreciative of all the positive feedback I have received on this WordPress web site.  Thank You All!

 
Blessings, a special gift from God.
Given in prayer
given when no hope
seems apparent.
 
 
Blessings bring joys
when there is darkness
laughter where there are tears.
Could these blessings be
but tears from God?
 
 
A way that our God lets us know,
that He truly is there
and yes
He does exist?
 
 
At times these gifts are given
when never expected
to let us know
truly love and concern
is there for us all. 
 
 
If you have forgotten on this day
the many special blessings rendered to you.
In this blessed thing called Life.
Get on your knees
render thanks to our God.
 
He will only bless you
with more of His eternal Love.
 

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"The Journey" copyright 2005 John J. Rigo "Roses Amidst Thorns"

Posted in Selection from "Roses Amidst Thorns" published in 2005, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 17, 2012| 3 Comments »

 
 
A ship in the sea of life
riding each wave of life
seeking the warm sun of each day
the beauty of each dream as night falls
is never lost
as  it heads toward the curve
of each horizon.
 
Storms will blow
onward do we flow
in love and courage
by His hand.
 
Tomorrow brings the knowing in His love
the vastness of the ocean
is not so alone.
 
As long as we believe
we will never be alone
for His love
surpasses all of this
this and time beyond
this brief sea of life.          
                                                                                      

 

                                                                                                                                

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"There Was a Certain Grace" copyright 2005 John J. Rigo "Roses Amidst Thorns"

Posted in Curse not me for thy will become Cursed, Selection from "Roses Amidst Thorns" published in 2005, tagged , , , , , , , on September 28, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 

“The Lord Defeats my Enemies Thru Michael who brings Death and Destruction to their doors…..Bless the Lord’s name, be in awe in the power of his angel.”

There was a certain grace to the look of him facing death.
He did not seem to have succumbed to the idea of dying.
He stood tall and proud with a direct look into your eyes.
His bearing, his eyes, said many things.
 
His eyes said he had lived a life of honor
and without shame
as to who
and what he was
as a person.
 
If he was guilty of any deep emotion
it was to have loved too much.
He had loved many in his life
giving all he had to give
to each relationship
without a reserve held.
He was always the one hurt
the deepest in the leaving.
 
If you ever knew him
you would never forget him
whether for a few minutes or several years
in the sharing part of a day with him.
 
He lived as a man
protecting the ones he loved.
He loved in the best of circumstances.
He loved in the worst of circumstances.
 
I am glad I got to know him on a personal level.
There were days of doubt in knowing this person.
“Yes” as one said about him in a dissenting way
“He always came out smelling like a rose.”
 You ask, “How did I know this man so well?”
It was easy knowing him
for you see
he was me. 
 

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"Our Day" copyright 2005 John J. Rigo "Roses Amidst Thorns"

Posted in Selection from "Roses Amidst Thorns" published in 2005, tagged , , , , , , on August 26, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 
 
 

Courtesy of footage.shutterstock.com

A bright blue sky day.
Water with a spray of diamonds.
Rays of warmth upon my face.
 
You at my side
with that special smile
that I love above all expressions
that pass over your face each day.
 
Let us hold this close to us
in what seems not enough time for
just the two of us.
 
Cherish this day
love this day
with all we have.
 
For we will never know
how many
if any
of these days are before us.
 
We have each other
with our love for one another.
What could be worth
more than just this day?

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"A Soldier’s Farewell" copyright 2005 John J. Rigo "Roses Amidst Thorns

Posted in McKinney Texas' Memorial Day 2012, Poetry, Selection from "Roses Amidst Thorns" published in 2005, tagged , , , , , , , , , on May 27, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Picture Courtesy of easterniowanewsnow.com

  
 
 

It is time to say goodbye.

I can see my sadness in your eyes.

Is this the goodbye kiss that will aways 

be in your memory?

 

 

Press closer to me

imprint my soul with your being.

Please do not look into my eyes

the sadness will always be there

until we are one again

in our happiness. 

 

 

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“What Is This Thing that Cries Out Within Me?” copyright 2005, selection from “Roses Amidst Thorns” http://lulu.com/texaspoet

Posted in Poetry, Selection from "Roses Amidst Thorns" published in 2005, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 24, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 
 

Courtesy of angelinasfall.blogspot.com

What is this thing that cries out within me?
Is it a spirit that hungers for freedom?
“Freedom from what?” my mind asks in cold hard terms.
 
My life seems about things.
Things stack
things store away
a room full of things.
A bank acoount with growing numbers
but it seems
it is all about the balances.
 
I look into the mirror because they say
“Mirrors never lie”
What I see
is not
what I am.
 
I am like unto the spirit of youth
locked in a dark gray cell
listening to the sound of time on the clock
growing more loudly each day.
 
I find myself dancing alone at times.
I love what the sound of music does to my body.
I go back to that mirror
with sweat dripping down my face.
 
I am still puzzled by the face
that stares back at me.
There is a pleading look in my eyes.
They cry out,
“See me, see me
I am not dead!” 
 
A ghost I have become from growing older with time.
I move through my life
seemingly untouched by the sounds of laughter from my past.
 
The smells of loving sweat
the memory of gentle lips touching
the back of my neck.
I feel like my body
no longer remembers the joys of passion.
 
Yesterday I sat in a room noticing many things.
They were little things
but important things
that let the gift of beauty
be shared by one
such as me
hungry for their taste. 
 
The gentle curve to a neck
that seemed to never end.
The movement of material on a full soft breast
as the breath of the beholder
played with the movements.
 
Eyes with a color of the lightest blue
with mystery whirling within their depths
of thoughts yet unspoken or shared with anyone.
 
I heard that voice within me cry out
“See me, see me, I am not death, but alive!
Hear my cry
feel my need
I am alive!”
 
I left the room without a word.
There was a slight smile on my face toward you
as there was a similar smile on yours.
Silent thoughts unshared
upon our departure.
 
Two ships passing on a huge ocean
with a wave of the hand
toward each other
across desolate waves.
When will this voyage end?
What distant shores await each of us?

 

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"Yea Through the Grace of God Go I" copyright 2005 John J. Rigo "Roses Amidst Thorns"

Posted in Poetry, Selection from "Roses Amidst Thorns" published in 2005, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on May 8, 2012| 4 Comments »

 
I have been where you are
a hell of loneliness and despair.
Had I created this place in my past
as you are now
where I was once?
 
I ask myself what pains cross your mind
as this day of many comes to you?
Do you hunger?
Are you without sleep?
 
The night only brings fear for your life.
Are you without anyone who cares
where you are this day?
Are you missed?
 
I too have been where you are.
From ashes of the mind did thou raise me
from a pit of worldly hell.
 
It was not my talents of mind
nor spirit that lead me from this dark world.
It was my prayers.
 
You never failed to hear me
when I cried out to you.
When I tried to end this life
you spoke gently to me
asking me to be patient
and wait one more day.
 
One day lead to another.
Finally the sun began to shine again
in your blessings and your love for me.
 
Thank you Lord
for giving hope to the hopeless
as you gave to me.
 
Thank you Lord
for loving me when I was without love.
Yea Lord without your grace
would I now be lost.  
 
 

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Question? copyright 2005 John J. Rigo "Roses Amidst Thorns"

Posted in Poetry, Selection from "Roses Amidst Thorns" published in 2005, tagged , , , , , , on May 4, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 

Courtesy of olliekane.blogspot.com

A singular line horizontally drawn.
Above a blue sky.
Below
a deep ocean of blue.
 
Is it the end of the world
or the beginning of another?
 
Standing still
there is no answer.
 
Only by moving forward
do we realize there is more
beyond a singular line.
 
Attitude?
Perspective?
Are they not one
and the same?
 

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"My Gift" copyright 2005 John J. Rigo "Roses Amidst Thorns"

Posted in Poetry, Selection from "Roses Amidst Thorns" published in 2005, tagged , , , , on April 25, 2012| 2 Comments »

Courtesy of Agung888 
 
 
 
My gift to you is neither gold or silver.
Diamonds can never hold the light of this gift.
Pearls will will never glow beyond the of this gift.
 
It is everlasting and eternal.
Within the gift is enclosed the song of angels.
Another part of the gift is the gentle breath of God
given in love to his creatures.
 
In many ways this gift has life within it
as it changes and grows.
My only valued possession of priceless value is this gift.
 
I give you this gift freely without restraint.
Beyond death it will always be yours.
I give thee my love my love. 
 
 

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"Realization" copyright 2005 John J. Rigo "Roses Amidst Thorns"

Posted in A Poem of Memory by McKinney Poet John J. Rigo, Poetry, Selection from "Roses Amidst Thorns" published in 2005, Spirit-Filled Poetry, Texas' Poetry, tagged , , , , , , , , , on April 24, 2012| 2 Comments »

 

Picture couresy of Bing

 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Multicolored lighting amidst the sound
of rhythmic thunder pounded the huge hall.
The laughter and droning noises had a hollow metallic sound.
 
The human Ferris wheel was in motion around the center spoke.
Quick glaces, smiles…some real
other’s set in concrete faces.
There was quiet desperation set in the eyes of many.
 
Touching in passing moments of movement
were soft warm bodies
pressed against arms
hips brushing fingertips.
 
Out of loneliness did I seek this place
a passenger on a self-made time machine.
I am tired of too many futures coming to this moment.
 
I want the warmth of my youth.
Child-book romance where just the touch of a hand
freezes time in its beauty.
 
Primitive drums change tempo
the words are lost to the sensation of physical self.
Reality is moved to the edge of pulsating light beneath
the feet of bodies in tune with the sound.
 
Paired dancers locked in self-love
unaware of each other.
A checkerboard of kings and queens without mates
in a game without end. 
 
Surrender whispers the voice within.
A reflection on a mirrored wall looks intently
at a standing figure.
 
A misplaced look of aging shown in
salt and peppered hair with growing signs of age
around the eyes.
 
The dream of youth shatters.
The Guardian of Time Present
leaves through the portal marked “Exit.”
The dream is no more.

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