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Posts Tagged ‘Texas’

Courtesy of umazzing.com

As of May 22nd, 2014, the “Texas‘ Poetry Site” reached another milestone of 50,000 plus hits.  My deepest thanks and appreciation to the WordPress family, and all those who share my spiritual poetry work, as well as my Texas’ Commentary posts regarding my new communities in Henderson County, Texas, Eustace, Texas, Gun Barrel City, Texas and the Nation. 

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John J. Rigo’s name on the Veterans War Memorial in Mabank, Texas

John J. Rigo’s name on Veterans War Memorial in Mabank, Texas

As a senior, I know there is not unlimited time in my life to be in this world.  I believe we all want to leave some part of us in the world.  Something beside a tomb stone in a forgotten grave yard some place.  Perhaps the kind of grave yard where the tomb stone lays flat on the ground.  A place where huge grass cutting machines run across expanses of grass and weeds that sit among tomb stones. 

I am proud to say, there is a place marked for me.  It is a memorial of beauty in an East Texas town of Mabank.  The memorial is a salute to perhaps, some of the happinest days of my life.  It was my four years of active duty in the Air Force.  Knowing that this place exists where my name is among those who have served our country with honor, brings me a truly wonderful peace. 

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Cover of first published poetry book "Roses Amidst Thorns" 2005 by John J. Rigo

Cover of first published poetry book “Roses Amidst Thorns” 2005 by John J. Rigo

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.

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"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.
 

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"A Sunrise each morning at Cedar Creek Lake in East Texas,  reminds me of all the blessings the Lord has rendered me." copyright 2014 John J. Rigo

“A Sunrise each morning at Cedar Creek Lake in East Texas, reminds me of all the blessings the Lord has rendered me.” copyright 2014 John J. Rigo

The future of Cedar Creek Lake and the course of leadership in its surrounding communities will be greatly important to all of us that call this lake our home.  With droughts occurring more often in the area, we as a community need to question the course of our current leadership in its goal of being a resort community

The damages to our economy by sharing of our lake with the Tarrant County Water District need to be put into question after 45 years that the water that touches our shores is sold and shipped to Tarrant county and other buyers of the water in Texas.  It is a proven fact that so-called controlled watering of local properties  by the Tarrant County Water District surrounding the lake effect lake levels less than a percentage of one percent. 

The rate of the selling of said water by Tarrant county far outstrips any rains the area receives. The end result is waterfront properties that become worthless and business that depend on tourism, are failing at a rapid rate in the area. Issues of eminent domain on the parts of all the countries that touch this lake locally, need to be addressed in a legal perspective in thinking “outside the box” in the control of Cedar Creek Lake, as well as the sharing of its financial resources.  A “Fair balance” needs to be established between property owners around the lake, as well as the Tarrant County Water District.

A group of concerned property owners as well as business owners surrounding the three hundred miles of shoreline on Cedar Creek Lake in East Texas needs to be formed to shape the future of our community.  It will take creative planning and intelligent goal setting to release the area from the bondage of the Tarrant County Water District with keen insights to all aspects of the rights of property and business owners who own property on the waterfront of this lake.

If you fall into this category of concern for your home and business and wish to be part of this citizen group contact John J. Rigo at texascommentator@hotmail.com.  The future of Cedar Creek Lake in East Texas starts today.  A passing note:  I have no desire to head-up such a group.  I would consider being in an advisor capacity only.  Some folks do well in politics and as a community activist. 

That is not the case for me since I am in your-face-kind-of-man who does not tolerate “self-servers” very well.  Included in that category are city managers with private bathrooms in their city office and pay checks exceeding over $140,000 a year and whose word is “worthless” in keeping their promises to property owners on Cedar Creek lake when it comes to code violations. 

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"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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Image courtesy of Google Image Search.  Poem by award winning poet John J. Rigo of East Texas.

Image courtesy of Google Image Search. Poem by award winning poet John J. Rigo of East Texas.

Poem "Waking Knight" by John J. Rigo.  Image courtesy of Google Image search.

Poem “Waking Knight” by John J. Rigo. Image courtesy of Google Image search.

 
 
Commentary:  It is my belief that all creative writers look for markers along their writing journey that represent improvement in their craft.  This recent written poem is no exception in my almost thirty years of poetry writing.  Within the poem I see my belief in an afterlife,  I see myself as a warrior in defense against Evil representing my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  What a beautiful image to die and awake in such a place in one’s after life.  Thank you Lord for this life and all lives that will be ahead in eternity. 
 
 
 
I awoke
as from a sleep
of death.
 
Long gentle fingers
were rubbing my forehead
the side of my face
touching my lips.
 
As my eyes opened
I knew I was no longer
on my prior world of earth.
 
Before me I beheld
a beautiful maiden
of golden hair
skin of cream and light
eyes of blue/grey and gold.
 
There was no fear within me.
I was at a place where I was meant to be.
I was home in a castle of my Lord‘s place for me.
 
My eyes gazed upon my body.
Upon me where plates of armour.
Gold-Silver and various jewels
incrusted upon them.
 
As the maiden raised my head
I observed the symbols upon my breast-plate.
In the middle in Gold was a Lion.
 
On each side of it were Dragons
standing with their feet gently
touching the Lion.
 
Above the Lion
flew a Golden Eagle
with wings of silver.
 
My armour gleamed
from head to toe
in this beautiful creation.
 
What battle has my Lord
prepared for me in this place?
Who was this maiden
who touches me with a loving touch?
 
The maiden spoke,
“My Lord, Evil awaits for battle.
Prepare thyself.”
 
 
 
 

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Courtesy of umazzing.com

As of May 2nd, 2014, the “Texas‘ Poetry Site” reached another milestone of 49,000 plus hits.  My deepest thanks and appreciation to the WordPress family, and all those who share my spiritual poetry work, as well as my Texas’ Commentary posts regarding my new communities in Henderson County, Texas, Eustace, Texas, Gun Barrel City, Texas and the Nation. 

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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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Courtesy AngelsByEve.com

It was one of those days that nothing seemed to be going right.

My mind filled with racing thoughts

going different ways

Questions, questions with seemly no answers

as I pushed through the crowd

of wherever I was going.

Suddenly  in my own world

I looked up

and there you were

passing me ever so quickly.

The smile that you gave me took my breath away.

A stranger’s smile in a maddening world. 

There was such kindness in that smile of yours.

The warmest of feelings overcame me.

Peace and Joy was brought to my racing heart.

Long after you were gone

I tried to remember

what you looked like.

Were your eyes Blue or Brown?

All that remained in my mind’s eye

was the memory of that very special and endearing smile.

A smile that brought a smile to my own lips.

With a nod of my head

I gave thanks and appreciation

for this gift from a stranger.

 

Long after this time

a strange thought came to my mind.

Could angels be walking this earth

to remind each of us

that love can be

the gift of  the day? 

 

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