“The Bradford Pear Tree of Club Lake Trail” copyright 2004, a lost poem recovered, preview poem, “Passion Amidst Apathy” This Poem is Dedicated to the Storm Victims of North Texas.

  

“Why do you stare at me?”

A Pear Tree am I

unchanged by the lost of a part of me.

I am the same

nothing has changed

there is just less of me.

 

Why do you stare a me

as you pass?

Am I so different then before?

 

I still smell the air

feel the sky

and warm myself in the sun of day

soak the rain of day

amidst the storms that roll into my horizon.

 

I still dream of dreams

yet to come

for I am and still am

the mighty Bradford Pear Tree of Club Lake Trail.

 

I was taller

fuller and prouder

than I am now

but still the Bradford Pear.

 

The tree you looked upon each day

with such pride.

Have I changed so much from those days

when you looked so lovingly at me?

 

The change came slowly over the years.

Worms chewed in the joy of my wood

seeking the essence of me.

 

I grew

but as each leaf fell

I became closer to my death.

 

The death of cut wood and broken twigs

laid upon a ground now unknown to me.

What changed me so quickly and without warning?

 

It was shortly after midnight

the storm came.

Wind tearing at the very soul of me.

 

Wind ripping my inner part out

to lay useless

and with only partial life upon the ground.

 

I am still the same

the Bradford Pear

I live

I breathe

I sun

even with fuller leaves

than before.

 

Should you now love me less

for not being as powerful

and mighty as before?

 

I love you no less

for you see

I am

and will always be 

your Bradford Pear Tree of Club Lake Trail. 

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“The Dark Angel Amidst Us” copyright 2008 John J. Rigo upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

 

 

The Dark Angel will be overcomed.

Amidst us stands the Dark Angel

joyful at each victory gained against us.

 

A free will to choose Good or Evil

a gift from our Loving God

is a part of our daily struggles.

 

The weapons of the Dark One are many.

Darkness that covers our mind with sorrow

in our latter years

to place us in a void of hopelessness

and fear.

 

Lost of health

lost of loved ones

bringing doubt to our aging minds.

 

Are we to be snatched from His Love

at our Eleventh hour before death?

 

Render your darkness to God’s Love and Power.

The Lord will lift you above this Evil.

 

Never fear

never give in to distrust nor hate

in the darkness that attacks you.

 

The Dark One’s only reward in eternity is suffering

while yours will be in the Light of God’s Love forever.

 

 

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

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.

 

 

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

 

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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“My Beloved Survivor” copyright 2009 (Possible PG13 rating) John J. Rigo, upcoming book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Courtesy of Hubpages.com

 

She stood naked before me in the bathroom.

Before me I can see her beauty

amidst the scars of her two battles.

 

Breast cancer

twice in a ten year period.

 

Her left breast was twisted almost inward.

The scar under her arm pit made her nipple

bend inward toward her chest wall.

 

Upon her right breast the burn was clearly seen.

It was where six weeks of radiation were done

in one week. 

 

The right side was caved inward in this area of burn.

Her nipple stood straight high and proud on this breast. 

This was the breast that the doctor suggested

that she also have chemo due to her second bout.

 

Her hair had long grown back from this terror

of a heart-wrenching attack on her entire body.

 

As she smiled at me

and kissed the top of my head.

 

I thanked my Lord

for putting this beautiful

and strong woman

in my life.   

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“Words Upon My Stone” excerpt from “Roses Amidst Thorns” copyright 2005 by John J. Rigo

 

 

Courtesy of Arlington

Someone asked me once

what I wanted to be

when I finally grew up.

 

I said to them, “Let me be a poet

with words that are never forgotten

in my journey of life.

 

Let my journey be one of joy

discovered in sorrow

to all of those who read my words.

 

When death finally enters my door

a special note upon my stone

I request be placed in memory of me

upon an earth that I visited

for a short time.

 

Let the words in simple chiseled letters

read thusly, ‘He was not a simple man

for God did not make him so.

He only wanted to be simply known

as a poet.'”

 

 

 

 

 

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“The Gift of a Stranger’s Smile” (Revised) copyright 2005 John J. Rigo “Roses Amidst Thorns”

  

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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“The Tree of Life” (Revised) copyright 2007 John J. Rigo upcoming Book III, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

 

Courtesy of peaceinchrist.wordpress.com

I carved our initials in the Tree of Life.

What value has love in ‘death do us part?’

Is love a flash of light

in the long darkness of night?

 

Flesh to flesh in being born

then death without memory

unable to behold

to recall at will in deep detail.

 

Will thoughts become ashes

that are scattered in a soft wind?

My love to you dearest one

is forever more

upon the Tree of Eternal Life.

 

From the first garden

of eternal promise.

A promise of Love

never lost.

 

Love that is always remembered

in the heart of our Lord

that will never be lost

or forgotten

in the passing of time. 

 

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

 

 

“………..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. 

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“The Eternal Kiss” John J. Rigo copyright 2005 “Roses Amidst Thorns”

 

 

Courtesy of Favin.com

I kiss thee

with my heart

upon my lips.

 

My breath held

in anticipation

of the moment.

 

Held so long

afraid to take

that next breath.

 

for this magic

overtakes me

in this moment

forever locked

in your embrace.

 

 

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