I dreamt that I'd tell you,
  I dreamt I'd convince you.
I dreamt you would love me
and I too would love you.
I dreamt of perfection,
a dream so romantic.
I dreamt you would smile
and carefully panic.
I dreamt you would hug me.
  I dreamt we would both see,
together we're better -
  I dreamt you weren't choosy.
I dreamt up the ways
of how I could tell you.
I dreamt up bouquets
and a time and place too.
I dreamt that I told you.
  I dreamt that I could do.
I dreamt that it happened.
  I dreamt of a breakthrough.

instead i told you
at 3am   drunk   on facebook
*and i took it back the next morning

I saw two birds upon a limb

One was her and one was him

One was courting; one was shy

I figured out which was the guy

I liked his moves strong and bold

He sashayed closer in his role

But she was busy with a worm

While he was anxious for his turn

But then a bigger cousin came

And took her dinner, what a shame

Number one bird watched her go

Chasing cousin Romeo

Who stopped and let her share his worm

Funny how a road can turn

The best laid plans of bird and man

You never know what life will hand

six years have passed, the family is fine,
for we don't speak about him anymore,
but mother, with a frequent random line,
which closes lips, draws eyes down to the floor,

no, we don't speak about him anymore,
but fill our mouths with all things that distract,
our open living room has one closed door,
we chat about all things except one fact,

discussions, all sweet-tempered by our tact,
with tact we step around the elephant,
our dire necessity's survival act,
we've learned to force the smile and quell the rant,

at end of day each one within his room,
speaks to his memory in tones of gloom

(C)2012, Christos Rigakos

Perhaps not love – at least akin,
this shatterbelt of sheets and limbs.
Our hearts break for the smallest things,

but if we're just two burning bees
in a forest full of cardboard trees,
I wish for drought, dry leaves, a breeze.

Whether by your own hand
or assisted by the selfish outlaw
with whom you last shared
your lonely body,
your eyes closed forever
no last thought
other than to end.

It was recklessness
that took you
to dark ***** places
no sweet girl should go
where endless bad actors
hurt and starving like you
had no lines to recite
no script but loneliness.

Your lovely face now torn
your once promising *******
like wounded doves
will never fly
to wise sacred gardens
where nourishment is given
to the orphaned heart.

Yet I have a prayer for you still
that perhaps from a higher place
you will come to understand
the beauty I saw
beneath your vain skin
a tender young girl
whose sweet hands
reached so desperately
to capture just one real love
not knowing I had waited
for you right there
at the edge of your heart
every time before.

How do I miss thee?
Let me count the ways:
I miss your loving heart
that beats with a deep caring for others
to the limits of its strength
and perhaps beyond.
I miss the warm communication of your arms
when, from time to time, they say the things that words fail
with a touch, a hug, a gentle pat.
I miss the wit and wisdom that is you
that warms my soul and helps my heart to beat
when life has dragged it down.
I step outside to clear my head,
for the heat of the day lingers in my room
heavy, as if to echo my heart,
and find that the sky cries down
with gentle tears as though it too feels
the longing of my heart at this parting.
For though I have not yet left,
the knowledge that I shall makes me feel
as though the leaving was too long ago
and though I know in my head that it will be
only a short time in hours that I am gone
my soul feels the weight of it as if
those hours might be years.
I miss thee with all my being
for you complete me
in ways that words can not express.
And so I wait the appointed hour
with the desire that I might already be returning,
Your side is where I am meant to be
You are my strength, more so than you might know.
When I do things alone, they have no meaning
when I do things with you, they give me purpose.
You are the moon that lights my path
and keeps me safe in the darkness.

who shall answer for us
and what will be the meaning
our deeds, our lapses, and
our should haves too
it has come upon us,
like a great beast
our cities overthrown and
our temples destroyed
thousands die by famine, by sword
and our indifference
the water thick with crude oil and blood
and i saw the beast rising
amid the wreckage wrought
i saw the fire and the smoke
drifting, this way, and that
the pain, sorrow, disbelief
and what shall they say of us
no more than this
it is necessary to hate
those whom we must ****
to live we must conquer incessantly,
we must have the courage to be happy
compassion must replace fear
that is the fight worthy
of the straight gate and wide way
go into without threat
see the beast wounded
lay down and weep