Not about love or life.
Not about sun and snow.
Not about hate or politics.
What more ought we know.

Not philosophy, psychology or history.
Nor horror, adventure or mystery.
Whether on sea or land,
it will not stand
in the vast oak court of reality.

with every thought of you,
my heart explodes roses,
filling my mind's sky
with rose petal rain,
and every red petal
bears your name,
showering me with smiles
with every thought of you.

(C)1997, Christos Rigakos

Can there be anything more beautiful than the momentary
diversion of a streetlamp’s flicker? The way it brightens those naked
corners of the city, and the leaves and dirt that droop into them.

I wanted to write you a love letter, but you left before I remembered
your name, and my mother, when I was young
and she was scrubbing my face, told me never to forget
a lady’s name, but with your oversized flannel--
maybe you weren’t a lady, and maybe it wasn’t you I wanted to write.

The fireplace is full of ashes;
the flue is fastened shut.

You decided, when I asked, that you loved leaves in autumn best,
and I said they were my favorite too, but you were thinking of them
floating so gently down after you threw them high in the air
while I was thinking of the way they crumbled at the slightest touch.

It snowed last night. All of the streets
woke under a frozen blanket.

When I said I wanted to write you a love letter, I didn't really.

But you were here and now you’re gone,
and if I wrote to you and told you that I missed
the way you never shut the kitchen cupboards, or
the way you never made the bed or
the way you always remembered to kiss my cheek when you left
until you left for good;

if I were to write to you and tell you that--
it would feel like a love letter.

This lonely, sad year
               is now passing by.

This year where each day
              brought more tears to cry.

Each party that was,
             was a bit melancholy,

They were all missing
             one guy's joyful folly.

It seems no one knew
             quite what to say

Or how to pretend
             that we held grief at bay

Or how even to smile
              when you were not near

With your great big grin
              stretching from ear to ear
  

We keep looking for you
               in each passing day

Wishing you'd been
               given more years to stay.

Each day convinced
              any day you'd walk in

And we'd all be laughing
              with you again.

But hard as it is,
             we go on for that's what

You would demand,
            though the pain's a deep cut.

And we know that this pain
             is no less then

The proof of your love
            since the day we began.


In this next year
            help us to see

You're here with us
            in our family.

In a brother's voice,
           we'll hear your laugh

And know sister's hugs
          are on your behalf.

In arms of love
          you still hold us all tight

And everyone will,
          at the end of each night

Envy our privilege
         to be called the 'bambinos'

Of such a great man,
          (that's you Dad), our Dino.

Warm sea breeze
embrace the embers
of sunset’s night.

Pebbled wash
laps gentle ashore
shadow seeps
into every indentation  
the sand that sinks beneath my feet
still cooling from before.

Eyes through leafy palms
they meet
wincing in the glare
of sun lit shimmer heat

Your bikini
magnifies my gaze
covers an ample *****.

Moments thought
the inquisitive mind
Lost in oceans
azures blue.

Stretch to the horizon
leave the world behind
To hold so tight
as if sharing skin
To mould to every curve
and cleft of you.

A raptures prelude
senses commotion
run for cover
monsoon rain.

Somewhere
there is only you
a far away ocean
crying for crested moments
and indulge a passion
in such freedoms refrain.