the bishop touches subjects not his own

forgetting for which topic he has grown
he makes a proclamation as the blind
the bishop touches subjects not his own

assuming foreign flesh of unknown bone
he's reached to things to which he cannot bind
forgetting for which topic he has grown

assuming Divine Providence has shown
him things belonging to a different kind
the bishop touches subjects not his own

repeating fallacies that voices drone
which have no understanding in the mind
forgetting for which topic he has grown

he's so decreed with infallible tone
the saying which the socialists opine
the bishop touches subjects not his own

the firebrand, from mouth, the flames he's thrown
and scorched even his followers behind
forgetting for which topic he has grown
the bishop touches subjects not his own

(C)2009, Christos Rigakos

in ten years time I've lost so many loves

in ten years time I've lost so many loves
two cats, grandma and uncle had to go
a scythed old man has taken all our doves

i find my eyes exploring skies above
for brother, grandpa, where to? i don't know
in ten years time I've lost so many loves

as if someone has given life a shove
over some cliff high up bathed in moon's glow
a scythed old man has taken all our doves

as if just one could never be enough
but six like wooden ducks shot in a row
in ten years time I've lost so many loves

no finger prints as if someone with gloves
has specialized in death, and what's it show?
a scythed old man has taken all our doves

replaced them with black crows, wings flapping rough
to age my face much faster as I grow
in ten years time I've lost so many loves
a scythed old man has taken all our doves

(C)2009, Christos Rigakos

Knowing

they came to Earth to take us all away,
the few of us who'd make a new beginning,
who had the mark to save us from the Day,

through whispers into children's ears would say,
the dates when Death's visage would show up grinning,
they came to Earth to take us all away,

who have our innocence, the rest would stay,
who lost it in a sea of vulgar sinning,
who had the mark to save us from the Day,

the visitors would show them bleak and gray
foreshadowings the Sun would sure be bringing,
they came to Earth to take us all away,

yet no requests of those who'd strongly pray,
could stem the tide that'd stop the Earth from spinning,
who had the mark to save us from the Day

could, with a pebble in the hand, go away,
and find ourselves upon a new field, singing,
they came to Earth to take us all away,
who had the mark to save us from the Day

(C)2009, Christos Rigakos

*inspired by the movie, "Knowing"

where is the other world?

where is the other world, where does reside
the realm of souls impossible to see
that place where loved ones go where spirits hide?

most say it is a place where souls abide
a distance from the flesh of which they flee
where is the other world, where does reside

the doorway sought and failed where many've tried
to peek into the dark against decree
that place where loved ones go where spirits hide?

yet is it here among us as we cry
for loved ones passed from casket 'cross that sea?
where is the other world, where does reside?

and could it be right next to those who've died
while resonating foreign frequencies
that place where loved ones go where spirits hide?

why do we look with longing to the skies
when all around us things are never seen?
where is the other world, where does reside
that place where loved ones go where spirits hide?

(C)2009, Christos Rigakos

electrons swirl a distance from the core

electrons swirl a distance from the core,
which changes over time both to and fro,
the distance can be changed by less or more,

what will it be and what was it before?
the microscopes reveal just what they show--
electrons swirl a distance from the core,

the secret's in the energy that's stored,
electrons through their shells are pushed or towed,
the distance can be changed by less or more,

while mass remains the same forever more,
through k-shells and the others they could go,
electrons swirl a distance from the core,

akin to Earth gone knocking on Sun's door,
electron's bridging proton's space, you know
the distance can be changed by less or more,

that size is static has become a lore,
it's been determined, man can shrink or grow,
electrons swirl a distance from the core,
the distance can be changed by less or more

(C)2009, Christos Rigakos

what is the essence of a man?

what is the essence of a man,
that thing that differentiates,
but all he knows and all he can?

the knowledge carried in the hand,
the patterns he perpetuates?
what is the essence of a man,

which past the end of his lifespan,
out from the skin all penetrates,
but all he knows and all he can?

his breath to everywhere it spans,
with voice a heart loud palpitates,
what is the essence of a man?

he is his own uncaptured brand,
as every snowflake's separate fate,
but all he knows and all he can,

is gone when he can no more stand,
his echoes then reverberate,
what is the essence of a man,
but all he knows and all he can?

(C)2009, Christos Rigakos

avoid the dirt or else be stained

avoid the dirt or else be stained
weighed down by ugliness
and from the marriage hall restrained

before the bridegroom don't be shamed
dress up in holiness
avoid the dirt or else be stained

and from the outer gates be pained
to watch afar the bride in dress
and from the marriage hall restrained

true holiness cannot be feigned
and falsity will not impress
avoid the dirt or else be stained

the night outside will thus remain
a cold and bitter emptiness
and from the marriage hall restrained

you will have lost what you'd have gained
if you had clasped to cleanliness
avoid the dirt or else be stained
and from the marriage hall restrained

(C)2009, Christos Rigakos

i wax nostalgic as I pull my hair,

i wax nostalgic as I pull my hair,
as they have always come, again they're here,
my friends, they sit like corpses and they stare,

lamenting how my life's been most unfair,
while quivering and lapping up my tears,
i wax nostalgic as I pull my hair,

and as the follicles from skin I tear,
they hush their tongues, in silence lend their ears,
my friends, they sit like corpses and they stare,

how long have two lone brothers been a pair?
how much was shared between two hearts most near?
i wax nostalgic as I pull my hair,

yet how much can these friends of mine more bear?
i've burdened them with pity year by year,
my friends, they sit like corpses and they stare,

fatigued of me, yet one day more they dare,
to sit with me, for one more tale to hear,
i wax nostalgic as I pull my hair,
my friends, they sit like corpses and they stare

(C)2009, Christos Rigakos

there is nobody else like me

there is nobody else like me,
i am unique, i am a freak,
oh, can't you see, oh can't you see?

i am like nothing else you'll see,
you've never heard a man so speak,
there is nobody else like me,

I am a servant living free,
both i am strong and I am weak,
oh, can't you see, oh can't you see?

I scream in hushed-tone subtleties,
I have a happiness most bleak,
there is nobody else like me,

I am so poor I cannot pee,
my bravery's a yellow streak,
oh, can't you see, oh can't you see?

the distance from his heart is me,
and I've been buried with a rake,
there is nobody else like me,
oh, can't you see, oh can't you see?

(C)2009, Christos Rigakos