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

 

 

 

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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“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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“I Love You’s Without Meaning” copyright 2013 John J. Rigo, upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Image courtesy of Google image search. Author unknown.

Lately I have noticed more than ever

how often people use the words

“I Love You” more carelessly.

 

Simply sharing the words

in their minds makes them

feel good about themselves.

 

The words themselves should carry

more meaning in speaking them

than the reality of the real emotions

of the speaker.

 

When relating those words to another

it should also mean that “I am loyal to you.”

The words should relate that “I would never

say anything out of your presence about you,

that would be hurtful if said it to your face.”

 

Friendships should not be about gain

of one from another.

Friendships should be about

an “Honest” sharing of Love.

 

So on this day

of the few allotted to us

think carefully become using

the words “I Love You” to a friend.

The question here is

“Are you also worthy of Love?”  

 

  

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

 

 

Courtesy of asmp.org

Embrace your Youth.

The ticks of time move more quickly

than observed or counted. 

 

Embrace the Love of your Youth.

The embers lose their warm and glow

more quickly than our memories will capture.

 

Embrace the Wisdom 

that is bestowed upon you.

It will carry you

through the dark days

before you.  

 

Curse not your regrets.

They are but markers along the road. 

Regrets render the opportunity

to seek forgiveness.

 

Embrace your Lord

with Love and Worship.

He will Bless you along the road

and to the final place

of His Love for you. 

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“I Love You’s Without Meaning” copyright 2013 John J. Rigo, upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Courtesy of focusorlando.org
Many so called “Friends in Life are really wolves in Sheep’s Clothing.” Beware of those “I Love You’s” from Friends.

 

 

Lately I have noticed more than ever

how often people use the words

“I Love You” more carelessly.

 

Simply sharing the words

in their minds makes them

feel good about themselves.

 

The words themselves should carry

more meaning in speaking them

than the reality of the real emotions

of the speaker.

 

When relating those words to another

it should also mean that “I am loyal to you.”

The words should relate that “I would never

say anything out of your presence about you,

that would be hurtful if said it to your face.”

 

Friendships should not be about gain

of one from another.

Friendships should be about

an “Honest” sharing of Love.

 

So on this day

of the few allotted to us

think carefully become using

the words “I Love You” to a friend.

The question here is

“Are you also worthy of Love?”  

 

  

Read Full Post »

“A First Love Never Dies” copyright 2014 John J. Rigo, upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

The parks of Savannah, Georgia that we use to walk back in 1960. Picture courtesy of Google image search.

There are times

the sadness just rolls over my chest.

Crushing ocean waves upon my heart.

Memories of you return.

 

A first love never dies.

Innocence in love’s discovery

of another.

Pure linen wash were we.

 

Time is a cruel thing.

Relentless in its forward movement.

Removing the taste of the moment

quickly from our lips.

 

Life was uncomplicated then.

Two lovers walking hand and hand

to a Walgreen’s breakfast for $1,98 each

after church in downtown Savannah.

 

The year was 1960

a young man of 18 was I

while you a newly 18

off a recent bus from Happy, Texas.

 

A story book love story

did we own in our shared love.

A first love never dies

but wings through eternity.

 

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

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”

 

 

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”

 

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”

 

 

 

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.

Read Full Post »