Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy"’ Category

“The Forgiveness Letter” copyright 2011 John J. Rigo, upcoming book “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Posted in Poetry, upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged , , , , , , , on December 30, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Courtesy of Google image search. No credit available.

 
 
I found myself at the apex of my life.
It was not a twelve step program that entered my mind
but a way to seek “Forgiveness.”
 
The list was long
and difficult to put together.
Many of the names were from many years ago.
 
A great amount of time was spent in finding addresses.
Many of the people of the list
were long dead.
 
It was a form letter I composed.
It began, “This letter is written to ask for your forgiveness
for any hurtful thing said or done to you in our relationship.
Please accept my apology for such actions on my part.”
 
There is now a large pile of letters with stamps on them
awaiting in a box to be mailed.
Some will be returned “undelivered.”
 
A large number of my addresses will never respond. 
A few will write back simply saying that the apology is accepted.
A greater number will write back listing my sins upon them
and close with black bitterness in their closing written words.
 
Then there will those who are the exceptional of heart.
In their return letters
they will also accept responsibility for any hurts
brought to the prior relationship. 
 
There will be a wonderful result in sending these letters.
I did seek “Forgiveness.”
Whether is was given or not
is not important.
 
What will be important
I will then know
who my neighbors in heaven
will be.
 
 
 

Read Full Post »

"The Magic Christmas Bells of Florence Street" copyright 2008 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, "Passion Amidst Apathy"

Posted in upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged , , , , , , , on December 20, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
 
 
 
Courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

Courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

This is a magical Christmas story from my past.
It was a new beginning for my life in 71′
a new marriage and becoming the Step-Father
of three children was my accomplishment.
 
It was Christmas eve 
just a few minutes before midnight.
We just got home from a trip to a family
gathering in Dallas.
 
It was cold with clear night skies
as we began to hear the sound of sleigh bells
over our home.
 
We all stood outside the front door
of our home in amazement,
as we hear the bells from far away
come closer overhead
then pass over our house
then on to the distance in sound.
 
We could not see anything overhead
but we all knew that evening
truly  St. Nick and his sleigh
had passed
somehow
over our home.
 
 

Read Full Post »

"Hugs" copyright 2009 John J. Rigo (Revised) upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy"

Posted in Christmas Hugs A Poem about Hugs by John J. Rigo, Poetry, Texas' Poetry, upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged , , , , , , , on December 12, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
 
There is something wonderous about a hug.
It is a way of saying,”you are special to me.”
A step beyond the boundries of formal convention.
 
The assurance of a heart touching a heart.
A touch of comfort to calm a grieving heart.  
A cheek touching a cheek
with a kiss of greeting.
 
Whether a man to man
or woman to woman
or man to woman
or woman to man
there are no limits to showing
our love for another.
 
We are all souls in His creation
with an eternal bond between us all.
The hug is the sign of our sisterhood and brotherhood.
 
Let it not become forgotten in your life
it is precious honey to the wounds of this life
forever giving
forever loving
in the wonder of love
to us all.
 
 

Read Full Post »

"What Is The Secret Key To Eternal Life?" copyright 2008 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, "Passion Amidst Apathy" The Seventh poem of the Master’s Series

Posted in Lord Guide my Life, One of Seven Poems of the "Master Series" by John J. Rigo, Poetry, upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged , , , , , , , on December 9, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
 

“One of Seven Poems of “The Master‘s Series of Poetry.”

On this day
the Master revealed
His greatest gift to mankind.
 
This gift was rendered on a mountain of stone
reflected on a setting sun
to a multitude of many
in one of the many lessons
given to multitudes in those years. 
 
The question
that came toward the end of that day
was, “ Master, what is the greatest gift
that God gives to all of us?”  asked the young
man in the multitude of that day.
 
The Master replied,
“The greatest gift that my Father gives to all
is the secret of Forgiveness.
 
In rendering forgiveness to ones self
and also forgiveness of others
does a sinner reveal
the keys to heaven
and the eternal Love of our Father.
 
Forgiveness assures the eternal love of the Father
and being in the arms of His Love forever.”
So said the Master of my life
on this day.

Read Full Post »

"The Master Speaks of God’s Love" copyright 2008 (Revised) John J. Rigo upcoming poetry book, "Passion Amidst Apathy"

Posted in Poetry, Texas' Poetry, The "Master Series of Poetry", upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged , , , , , , , on December 8, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
 

“………..pointing to a star”

 
 
The night sky was a deep black with blazing stars
over the Master and His disciples
this particular night along the sea of Galilee.
It was a time of quiet contemplation of the beauty of God’s work.
 
Within the group of His disciples
one disciple had a troubling question.
With reverence he approached the Master with his question.
“Does God’s Love for us have bounds when remembering our sins in His Eternal Memory?”
asked the disciple quietly as to not disturb the other men in the group.
 
The Master lifted His Head toward the night sky
and pointed His finger to a bright star saying,
“As you look upon the stars in the night sky
many have long changed in form
and are no more. 
 
The distance is so great in the travel of that light
that we still see those suns prior to their changing of form. 
So it is in the breath of God’s Love for us
it is also beyond the width
depth and height of such distances from us.
 
Since His Love for us is unconditional
so is His memory of our sins.
In asking His forgiveness of our sins
their memory no longer exists in eternity.”
So spoke that night
the Master of My Life. 

Read Full Post »

"It Was My Sweet Jesus" copyright 2009 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, "Passion Amidst Apathy"

Posted in Poetry, upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged , , , , , , , on December 2, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
  

Courtesy of scotdodge.blogspot.com

It was my sweet Jesus
who brought me to the light
from the darkest place in my life.
 
It was my sweet Jesus
Who loved me
and kept me safe
when no one cared
whether I lived or died.
 
It was my sweet Jesus,
Who protected me against
the darkest of evils
that befell my life. 
 
It was my sweet Jesus
Who showed me the beauty of heaven
when I no longer believed in Him.
 
It was my sweet Jesus,
Who answered my prayers
when I cried out in pain and agony.
 
It was my sweet Jesus,
Who brought joy to my heart
and hope for my soul.
 
It was because of my sweet Jesus
that the eternity before me
is now filled
with the promise
of His eternal Love for me.

Read Full Post »

"A Christmas Memory From Long Ago" copyright 2008 John J. Rigo, upcoming "Passion Amidst Apathy"

Posted in A Lesson About Love, upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged , , , , , , , on December 2, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Courtesy of free-christmas-deskstop-wallpaper.blogspot.com

 
 
 
This poem comes from a true story in my life…..I think it is timeless in its message.   The lesson is that when two people share love, as I and my childhood bride did then, it truly was all the processions we needed.  
 
 
It was our first Christmas together.
We both were eighteen
with barely more
than the clothes on our backs.
 
I was just out of basic training
in the U.S. Air Force.
She had just graduated from high school
and then wrote a bus to Savannah, Georgia,
to join me
the love of her life.
 
We had rented a several room apartment
on the second floor of an old Savannah home.
It was in a falling-down condition.
 
The gifts we shared were inexpensive
but meant the world in their value
and meaning to each of us.
 
She gave me a St. Christopher‘s medal of Silver
while I gave her a Catholic missal.
She wanted to become a Catholic like me
prior to us getting married.
 
I took a picture of her opening her present.
The smile upon her face was beautiful.
It was a Christmas in 1960.
 
It will always be a Christmas
I will always remember.
The lesson I learned
that day was
the love between us
was truly
the greatest gift
we could have shared
that Christmas. 
 

Read Full Post »

"The Magic Christmas Bells of Florence Street" copyright 2008 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, "Passion Amidst Apathy"

Posted in upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged , , , , , , , on December 2, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
 
 
 
Courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

Courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

This is a magical Christmas story from my past.
It was a new beginning for my life in 71′
a new marriage and becoming the Step-Father
of three children was my accomplishment.
 
It was Christmas eve 
just a few minutes before midnight.
We just got home from a trip to a family
gathering in Dallas.
 
It was cold with clear night skies
as we began to hear the sound of sleigh bells
over our home.
 
We all stood outside the front door
of our home in amazement,
as we hear the bells from far away
come closer overhead
then pass over our house
then on to the distance in sound.
 
We could not see anything overhead
but we all knew that evening
truly  St. Nick and his sleigh
had passed
somehow
over our home.
 
 

Read Full Post »

"I Have Never Gotten Comfortable With Death" (Revised) copyright 2009 John J. Rigo, upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy"

Posted in A Poem About Facing Death by John J. Rigo, upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged , , , , , , , on November 27, 2013| Leave a Comment »

  
"We need each other on a human level of communication." comment by John J. Rigo, Texas' Commentator

“We need each other on a human level of communication.” comment by John J. Rigo, Texas’ Commentator

My mind still does not accept they are gone from this world.
I find myself many a time reaching for a phone
to call them.
 
It is a select group
these souls that were a part of my life.
Some are friends
that cannot ever be replaced
in the deep meaning of their unselfish love of me.
 
Others were my parents
who I never really knew as people.
There was the apple of my eye,
my step-daughter of many years.
Truly the only daughter
I ever knew in my life.
 
There were others
that I would have liked to have known better
they are now gone
without any notice from my life.
 
At times I find them in my thoughts
mind speaking with them about different things
reaching and seeking unresponsive council  from now
an unfamilar place in my heart.
 
I know they are not really gone
they are just in a different place than me
a place that beckons me as my own death comes closer each day.
 
You see I never have gotten comfortable with Death.
So my dear friends
my dearest of loved ones
make a place for me.
 
A place where again
we can laugh and love
and talk about
all that is around us
each day of the eternity before us.
 

Read Full Post »

“I Will Never Be Loved Like That Again” copyright 2011 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

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

 

 

Courtesy of Google Search Images.

Courtesy of Google Search Images.

The realization brought a choking to my throat.

My eyes swelled in tears.

The realization came to me fully

that I will never be loved like that again.

The youthful memory of having a woman look at me like that again.

The reflection of a hero in her eyes.

Reflected also in the shining armor of a knight.

Ah sweet memories

if only the taste of those kisses

could return again,

would I know again

the joy of love.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »