before the night has gone to sleep

before the night has gone to sleep
when moon has stilled, begun to yawn
the sun within a cage we keep

and for the lost ones do we weep
from dusk until the coming dawn
before the night has gone to sleep

with difficulty would we reap
the tears that'd melt within light's brawn
the sun within a cage we keep

and into darkness rich and deep
as into hidden caves of prawns
before the night has gone to sleep

before that from our beds we leap
we huddle in the cold like fawn
the sun within a cage we keep

to let the memories in seep
and honor those who've left and gone
before the night has gone to sleep
the sun within a cage we keep

(C)2009, Christos Rigakos

old songs, a river flowing to the sea

old songs, a river flowing to the sea,
i'm taken where you were, no longer are,
so far away from here they carry me,

into the sparkling waves of memory,
we meet across the ocean wide and far,
old songs, a river flowing to the sea,

as always we repeat the scenes I see,
yet when i dare to reach you, I am barred,
so far away from here they carry me,

in rich and vibrant tones you speak to me,
with warm and fleshy arms we joust and spar,
old songs, a river flowing to the sea,

your smile, as always, warms the heart in me,
your look, I hold preserved as in a jar,
so far away from here they carry me,

I lose myself inside the word of "we",
then find myself an "I" of broken shard,
old songs, a river flowing to the sea,
so far away from here they carry me

(C)2009, Christos Rigakos