Feeds:
Posts
Comments

“Re-Run” copyright 2012 John J. Rigo, upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

December 23, 2013 by John J. Rigo, Texas' Poet and Commentator

 

Courtesy of the special collection of the University of Washington

 
 
It had been many years since he felt that way.
It was a rerun in his memory of the past.
There was fifty years between them.
She was outright flirting with him.
 
He was uncomfortable with it.
He was sitting right there with his Bride.
She acted like his bride was not even in the room.
 
Maybe it was how she got right into his face.
She looked at him like he was something really special.
She touched his knee under the table
as she kneeled before them on the side of the table
to take their dinner order.
 
Just when he accepted that his youth was long gone
she had to come along and remind him
what it felt like to be desired.
She was unfair in doing what she did.
 
Leaving behind the passions of youth
is not an easy thing for a man to do.
The move from passion to wisdom
is painful for any man.  
 
Perhaps ladies there is a lesson here.
Men of Passion never die in their hearts.
The burning heat of creation is part of their DNA.
Never treat your man like he is no longer alive.
 
Within every silver-headed man
still lies the young boy
remembering
wanting
desiring.
 
Laugh not at Passion.
It is as old as the centuries.
Forever faithful.
Forever remembering.
What it was like
to have been loved. 
 
Commentary on Poem:  Shortly after I posted this poem and shared it with one of my friends, their comment was, “John, some folks would just about do anything for a big tip, especially a twenty year old.”  His comment was filled with great laughter.  Frankly I joined the laughter with many big “Ha-Ha’s” on my part.  There is much truth in the saying,  “There is no fool, like an old fool.” Lol 
 

Posted in Passion Never Dies, Remembering the Passion of Youth, Silver-headed men never Die | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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

December 23, 2013 by John J. Rigo, Texas' Poet and Commentator

 

“An Exploding Sun” Courtesy of cbsnews.com

A Sun in our universe
exploding into billions of pieces of ash.
An existence of billions of years.
 
A daily occurrence in our Universe
is such in the millions of light years
around us.
 
Our lifetimes upon this Earth
but an average of seventy-odd years.
Dust and ash will we also become.
 
Is there a difference in these two happenings?
We can only pray there is
in an eternal soul blessed by the Father.
 
Make a difference in the Universe.
It is your gift to your Father.
Give a part of yourself this day. 
 

Posted in Do we have souls?, The Gift of Our Souls | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

“Her Name was Rachael” copyright 2013, John J. Rigo, upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

December 22, 2013 by John J. Rigo, Texas' Poet and Commentator

 
 
Courtesy of vi.sualize.us

Courtesy of vi.sualize.us

Commentary:  Sunday, December 22nd, 2013, Rachael will be nineteen.  She is truly a beautiful young woman, whose beauty goes beyond her outer appearances.  Thank you for today’s special hug that you gave me.  Happy Birthday Rachael!
 
 
 
Her name was Rachael.
She could have easily passed
as my daughter.
 
I met her at a local restaurant.
She waited on our table.
My young past rushed in on me.
 
In my elder years of life
I now believe we can love
more than one woman
in a lifetime.
 
I met my childhood bride
when I was only 17
and she was 16.
It was my first weeks in
basic training in the Air Force.
 
We divorced a year after
I was honorably discharged
after four years of active duty.
We did not have any children
after two and half years of marriage.
 
Since then there have been
other woman in my life up
to the wonderful woman
I am married to today.
 
I have never had children of my own
in now what is my long and blessed life.
I think back many times today.
To those days in Savannah
and the children I never had.
 
Perhaps in a parallel universe
I am this day
hugging the daughter
I never had.
I can only hope so. 
 
 

Posted in December 22 2013 is Rachael's Birthday, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

” A Haven of Hope” copyright 2009 by John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy” A Dream of a Homeless Shelter for Henderson County in Texas

December 21, 2013 by John J. Rigo, Texas' Poet and Commentator

“A Haven of Hope” A Dream of a Homeless Shelter for Henderson County in Texas.

 
 
It can be a place of hope.
A shelter of caring love
and future dreams.
 
A second chance for many
and a third chance for others.
A shelter beyond just protection
against rain, wind, heat and cold.
 
A complex overcoming the appearance of lost hope.
Warm beds, class rooms and a library at its core
offering new lifetime friendships in a common bond.
 
A destination that never closes a door to those who leave.
Helping hands with hearts exposed
in words and deeds rendered
to those who were without hope.
 
Are we not as great
as the least among us?
A new start for children
for beatened mothers
for our lost warriors
returning from war.
 
A light burning ever so brightly
in showing all who come
that love is not only just a word.
 
The “Haven of Hope”
a diamond in our mist
shining ever so brightly.

Posted in A Future Homeless Shelter for Henderson county Texas? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

"I Broke Your Heart" copyright 2008 John J. Rigo future book, "Passion Amidst Apathy"

December 21, 2013 by John J. Rigo, Texas' Poet and Commentator

 
 
 

Courtesy of Google Search….author unknown

I broke your heart.
I know when the deed was done.
I knew then
as I know now
I was in love with you.
 
More afraid of failure
than giving myself to you.
I still can hear in my soul
the sound of your tears
on the tape from that day.
 
Two hours of tears and screaming
my name in agony.
I was the center of your agony
in my rejection of your love.
 
It has been twenty-five years
since that day.
A day never goes by
that my thoughts turn to you.
 
In my being
I now know
that the joy I knew with you then
will come again in my death
and hopefully with it
the joy of heaven.
 
If you are reading this
at this very moment
know this is one
who will always love you.

Posted in A Broken Heart, A Christmas-centered poem by John J. Rigo | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

“A Blessed Christmas to My Brother” copyright 2013 John J. Rigo, Texas’ Commentator

December 20, 2013 by John J. Rigo, Texas' Poet and Commentator

Richard J. RIgo of Smithtown, New York

Richard J. RIgo of Smithtown, New York, upper right hand corner.

A Blessed Christmas to my younger Brother, Richard J. Rigo and his family of Smithtown, New York.

Posted in Christmas Greetings to Richard J. Rigo of Smithtown New York | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

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

December 20, 2013 by John J. Rigo, Texas' Poet and Commentator

 
 
 
 
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.
 
 

Posted in upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy" | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

"One Night" copyright 2005 John J. Rigo "Rainbows Amidst Storms"

December 19, 2013 by John J. Rigo, Texas' Poet and Commentator

Courtesy of sion.hr

 
Steely the night shown against iced blackness
with a white diamond star blazing in the heavens.
Hints of soft voices whispered in the wind.
 
The weary shepherds pushed forward on their staffs
looking forward to the comfort of their tents.
Beyond the hills the sky glowed.
 
A choir of voices was heard with a sweet clarity
the sound of bells vibrated among the sound of horns.
The animals spooked deaf to the commands of their masters.
 
The wind increased in its volume and strength.
The shepherds were filled with fear.
Light overshadowed the darkness
during the midst of night.
 
Within the light formed
the most beautiful soft
white and gold of human-like forms
shining against the sky.
 
The shepherd’s breath stopped in their throats.
Filled with excitement and happiness beyond their capacity to describe
their skin prickled.
 
Heavenly voices brought words to their ears
words singing of kindness
understanding
peace
and anticipation to these men of the field.
 
The voices told of a special child that would
unlock the gates of fear and bring eternal love
to the future of the world.
 
This happened on a special night
a long long time ago. 
 
 

 

 

 

Posted in "Rainbows Amidst Storms" Second Published Book, A Christmas Poem by John J. Rigo, Winner of Collin County Texas Poetry Award | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

“Somewhere Along the Way” copyright 2013 John J. Rigo, upcoming poetry book “Passion Amidst Apathy”

December 18, 2013 by John J. Rigo, Texas' Poet and Commentator

 

 
Image courtesy of Google image search. Author unknown.

Image courtesy of Google image search. Author unknown.

Somewhere along the way we lost each other.
I do not know exactly when it happened.
In thinking back at different times in our lives
I can only guess.
 
The journey we were on somehow
now goes in different directions
in the deep loneliness we now feel.
 
Memories flood to the mind
of those beautiful days and evenings
long ago when we spent our time
just kissing each other.
 
We were so excited then
in the discovery of our love.
I was truly then
your knight in shining armour.
 
At a time in life
that we should be glowing
in our accomplishments together
we are engaged in anger
with each other.
 
I love you my Darling
above all things
perhaps that is why
this growing void
saddens me so.
 
Oh where Oh were
did our love go?
 
 
 

Posted in A new poem in December 2013 by John J. Rigo | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

"I Remember Fondly Christmas’ Past" copyright 2005 by John J. Rigo, selection from "Rainbows Amidst Storms"

December 17, 2013 by John J. Rigo, Texas' Poet and Commentator

Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk

(The little boy’s story in the poem is true and a time from my own past.) This Christmas Season of 2013, I was thinking of my Father. This poem mentions him several times. I remember how dirty he was when he came home from work when I was a little boy. My Father was an iron and steel worker.  After he came home and took a bath, my Mother would then attempt to clean the ring out of the bathtub from his bath.  Many times with close to a half hour of scrubbing, she still could not get it out.  In those days, my Father made about a hundred dollars a week.  He worked very hard for that money.

*****************************************

 
 
I remember fondly Christmas’ past
our first tree alive with lights
before it caught fire later that week.
 
I remember fondly the Christmas with toys.
Never before had my brother and I received toys.
How angry my Father became when we broke several
toys after a few hours of play.
 
It was my Father’s first Christmas bonus
as a steel worker.
He spent that bonus on toys for us that Christmas.
He thought those toys would never break.
 
I remember fondly a special Christmas as a kid
when no money was available whatsoever for toys.
We found a punch-out cardboard castle in a
department store window.
 
One dollar and ninety-eight cents was the price of that castle.
My young brother and I played with it for days.
A punch-out castle was the best toy we ever had.
 
I remember fondly Christmas past,
acting in the church Christmas pageant.
I was a little child with the beard of a prophet
shaking in a spotlight in the church play.
It snowed that night.
 
My best friend and I asked
permission to keep wearing the beards.
A most beautiful snow floated through the air
as we walked home together.
 
The dirty streets of the city were made
clean and white with heavy, swirling snow flakes.
We sang church carols walking home
our arms around each other’s shoulder.
How close to baby Jesus we were back then.
 
I remember fondly Christmas’ past
when life seemed so much simpler.
Joys more easily shared with
laughter much deeper than now.
 
Still I thank God that I had those Christmas’ past
even to this special day of a new Christmas.
Another December which will also will soon be gone
into the misty memory of another Christmas’ past.  

Posted in A Remembrance of Christmas by John J. Rigo, christmas Poems by John J. Rigo, dojinvest18443tracking, Selection from "Roses Amidst Thorns" published in 2005 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »