we're cursed to find our end within the ground

we're cursed to find our end within the ground,
beneath the feet of others living on,
the tree that won't produce good fruit's cut down,

coincidence, that sunny skies seem bound
to anyone but us, as they go on?
we're cursed to find our end within the ground,

where we no more will taste a light or sound,
for there will no more be another spawn,
the tree that won't produce good fruit's cut down

are we pariahs in our cosmic town,
that we deserve to vanish by the dawn?
we're cursed to find our end within the ground,

where one by one increasing we are found,
forgotten with the growing of the lawn,
the tree that won't produce good fruit's cut down

what have we done, that Reaper's swings abound,
to cut us one by one till we be none?
we're cursed to find our end within the ground,
the tree that won't produce good fruit's cut down

(C)2008, Christos Rigakos

my greatest sin--to add more sin

my greatest sin--to add more sin,
without a pause, without a cause,
to end of day from day begin,

in retrospect, from where I've been,
to where I go, I break the Law,
my greatest sin--to add more sin,

I plead no ignorance within,
the Law I've heard, I've read, I saw,
to end of day from day begin,

and though I preach of ways to win,
mere breath of sound from clacking jaws,
my greatest sin--to add more sin,

I pose for all like mannequin,
in holy postures for the Law,
to end of day from day begin,

my transformation must begin,
before my end's a hopeless cause,
my greatest sin--to add more sin,
to end of day from day begin.

(C)2008, Christos Rigakos

while here, he was excluded from my dreams

while here, he was excluded from my dreams,
I had preferred the days before he came,
now gone, I reach for him in wishful dreams,

nine years alone, I had no friends, it seemed
my folks gave me a friend who shared my name,
while here, he was excluded from my dreams,

I'd found new friends, no need for more, i deemed
him just unnecessary for my games,
now gone, I reach for him in wishful dreams,

regret my childish child in painful screams,
how could I've known I'd feel such nagging shame?
while here, he was excluded from my dreams,

I'd much preferred a sister, folly gleams,
exposed in sunlight's view as it is tamed,
now gone, I reach for him in wishful dreams,

none can undo what's done, and so it seems,
I'm left with extra space to flog my brain,
while here, he was excluded from my dreams,
now gone, I reach for him in wishful dreams.

(C)2008, Christos Rigakos

the house that was a home is broken now

the house that was a home is broken now,
as four became but three and three but two,
how quickly houses fall, how quickly, how?

the Lord gives, takes away, we're forced to bow,
what first began as two, turned four, it grew,
the house that was a home is broken now,

the Lord makes dust of every sacred cow,
a house of four reduced again to two,
how quickly houses fall, how quickly, how?

the endpoint is the start point in the Tao,
what ends ends back to start, this much is true,
the house that was a home is broken now,

the one and one that formed the four they now
are one and one again, and they'll end too,
how quickly houses fall, how quickly, how?

and I the third can't fix, it's not allowed,
the broken home of one and one's soon through,
the house that was a home is broken now,
how quickly houses fall, how quickly, how?

(C)2008, Christos Rigakos

like times we sat in silence and we stared

like times we sat in silence and we stared,
i come once more to share with you the sky,
we face each other, both our souls full bared,

i sit upon a stool and bravely dare
to do what's sorely missed, and with deep sigh,
like times we sat in silence and we stared,

i watch you 'neath your covering, so scared,
unable to speak out, though hard I try,
we face each other, both our souls full bared,

you watching me past covering, unbared,
we both look past each other, in mind's eye,
like times we sat in silence and we stared,

the words not spoken when we better fared,
are spoken now upon the growls of cries,
we face each other, both our souls full bared,

how precious, little time of moments shared,
is realized only when it's bid good bye,
like times we sat in silence and we stared,
we face each other, both our souls full bared.

(C)2008, Christos Rigakos

the storm cloud's rained itself into the sea

the storm cloud's rained itself into the sea
its essence now among the many waves
i'm dried and shriveled, drying silently

so long ago you stopped and ceased to be
the tempest roared the sailors to their graves
the storm cloud's rained itself into the sea

behold the life force seeping out of me
no tears are left, I no longer behave
i'm dried and shriveled, drying silently

my shrieking wails have weakened to a plea,
the tear ducts, crusted over, overgave
the storm cloud's rained itself into the sea

now silence fills the air where you should be
and fills my lungs as well, shall I be saved?
i'm dried and shriveled, drying silently

i sit beside the hole where you would be
all words been said, all breath's been spent in rave
the storm cloud's rained itself into the sea
i'm dried and shriveled, drying silently

(C)2008, Christos Rigakos

The only thing I trust is not to trust the girls at all

The only thing I trust is not to trust the girls at all,
for once I knew to trust them when their solemn oaths they swore.
The only thing I know is that I know nothing at all.

There once was lovely Katina, in whom in love I'd fall,
who swore to me she'd never leave, yet walked right out the door.
The only thing I trust is not to trust the girls at all.

And Sandy once admonished me, for she was so appalled,
when I declared her love declared was rather either or.
The only thing I know is that I know nothing at all.

I know Katina left because a life abroad had called,
but Sandy almost dumped me when my trust in her had torn.
The only thing I trust is not to trust the girls at all,

for when so sheepishly I said I'm sorry for the gall
to doubt her love with little trust, it's then my heart she gored.
The only thing I know is that I know nothing at all,

for when I trust I know their trust, I trust that I will fall,
as female words in swearing oaths are sounds to be abhorred.
The only thing I trust is not to trust the girls at all.
The only thing I know is that I know nothing at all.

(C)2008, Christos Rigakos