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“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.
 
 
 

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“Advice to a Young Man” copyright 2013 John J. Rigo, upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Posted in Poem in advice to a young man by John J. Rigo, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 28, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
 
Picture courtesy of Google Image search by walkoffthoughts.blogspot.com

Picture courtesy of Google Image search by walkoffthoughts.blogspot.com

This is a poem of advice to the young men out there.
It took me almost three-quarters of a century
to learn these many things about a woman.
 
First and most importantly
avoid at all costs
their flowing tears.
 
Tears to a woman
is another form of organism
for a woman.
 
Asking the question,
“Is everything all right or What’s wrong”
will only set-you-up for their frustrations.
You will become the target
of their own inner struggles with themselves.
 
The second most important thing
Do not make them the center of your world.
Create your own world
where you can find
inner peace and joy as a man.
 
Remembering these major outlooks in life
will render you many happy days as a man
in either a marriage or long-term relationship.
Knights in armor only do well
in movies and story books.

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

Posted in Passion Never Dies, Remembering the Passion of Youth, Silver-headed men never Die, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 23, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 

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 
 

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

Posted in A Broken Heart, A Christmas-centered poem by John J. Rigo, tagged , , , , , , , on December 21, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
 
 

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.

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

Posted in A new poem in December 2013 by John J. Rigo, tagged , , , , , , , on December 18, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 

 
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?
 
 
 

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“Death of a Home” copyright 2005 John J. Rigo, published poetry book, “Roses Amidst Thorns”

Posted in What "Tough Love" is all About., tagged , , , , , , , , , on December 16, 2013| Leave a Comment »

"The results of not practicing Tough Love"

“The results of not practicing Tough Love”

Earlier in my life in a previous marriage I became a step-father to three children.  When I married their Mother, the youngest boy was age six named _ _ _ _ _.  _ _ _ _ _ _ was both a druggie, thief and mentally unbalanced.  I suspect the mental problems came from his Father at his own birth since his real Father died of a drug overdose.  The boy for fourteen years of that marriage brought me nothing but pain and grief each day of that marriage.  When it came to choosing between me or him by now my ex-wife of more than thirty years ago, she choose him.  He destroyed her life both from a mental point of view beside a financial one.  Today my ex lives in the same now broken down home because of this boy who today in his late forties has been in and out of prison and more than likely is living with her.  His life and her life are a great example of what “Tough Love” and its lack of on her part, is all about.  The following poem is on the first page of my first published poetry book.

 

The house was saddened.
Though occupied it appeared not.
The uncut hedge nearest the street
rose to a height of many feet.
 
The brushes around the house
had not been trimmed in close to a year.
Amidst peeling paint
and wild dandelions in the yard
was a yearning for love
which the house received
year’s past.
 
Inside the home pale and yellowed walls reflected
the internal sickness that destroyed the love
of its adult inhabitants.
 
A sickness born of a young mind
bounded by the disciplines of evil in his youth.
Torn wallpaper marked the first surrender
of this youth’s mother
to a childish whim in year’s past.
 
Pride departed
now shown in the dishes and pots
piled on the kitchen sink
with crusted leftovers
from last week.
  
The curtains were partly open
from a previous night
not for the sun of day
but a beacon to unwelcomed intruders
of night by the youth of the house.
 
The smell of evil engulfed the house.
A pungent sickly odor exhaled by the youth
of the house which brought the gaze
of forgetfulness to the point of nowhere.
 
He sat proudly overseeing his domain.
His position secure to sleep
to play to reach new highs
in his world of bright lights
and swirling thoughts.
 
He had won.
He now had his mother
his protector and provider
all to himself.
 
The man of the house
which became no one
departed with his things.
 
The youth laughed
and laughed
in sheer joy
at his victory.  
 

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"Friends of a Lifetime" copyright 2005 John J. Rigo "Rainbows Amidst Storms"

Posted in "Rainbows Amidst Storms" Second Published Book, Friends of a Lifetime by John J. Rigo, tagged , , , , , , , on December 13, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
 
 
 
With the passing of time
I have come to realize that there are truly
spaces that are never filled
by the loss of friends who were very personal
to my mind and heart.
 
Through the years
do the memories of Cliff and Tom
constantly come to my mind.
Never are they dead in my heart.
 
I see each of them
special in their concern for me
as the friends they were to me
and yes the love they rendered to me.
 
Have they been replaced in the void left by their absence?
No one has accomplished that.
Cliff was the short, large man from the deep South
always with a tale of lesson and advice not wanted
but when given
seemed well placed.
 
He spoke of home and craw-fish
his Mother and his victories in life
never of his losses.
 
You knew he was special
a special person to know.
The same stories he related never got old
just deeper in meaning.
 
The straight-laced
IBM type of guy was Tom.
He seemed to have found victories too early in his life
burning, dying as a shooting star.
 
An anger was present about him that could never be explained.
Tom loved a good meal and good drinks.
Save the waiter or waitress who spoke too much while serving!
He was there to savor the moment
should it be his last.
 
As Tom’s life was coming to an end
he maintained his pride to the last minute in a VA hospital
wearing a blue blazer that no longer fit;
no one cared about his past.
 
I miss Tom’s advice to me,
his laughter at my watch
that he thought was such a great sales job
because I had to push a button
to tell time.
 
His loud laughter rang in the night
raising high his special drink
to wish me and all
the best of life.
 
I miss both of these men.
They were the special friends of a lifetime
never to be replaced.
 
They are in my heart each day
with the warmest of love to my dearest friends
Cliff and Tom.
 
Whenever you both may be
in the great wonder of it all
I am one person
who misses you both
oh……….. ever so much.
 

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"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.
 
 

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"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.

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

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on November 10, 2013| 1 Comment »

 
 
Courtesy of vi.sualize.us

Courtesy of vi.sualize.us

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. 
 
 

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