Terry Richardson: Favorites

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

A Michaelle Yarbrough

When children cry day and night
Raising themselves all alone
Not old enough to know what’s right
Having to live life as if grown
Mommy and daddy out of sight
Hearts become as if made of stone
How can you say these are bad kids,
Living on what they were left with?

It’s like addiction has control
Not just the addict’s life style
But the child pays a high price
Their hearts raked over like coals
Never getting life as a child
Like they were born a sacrifice

No time to think about goals
Controlling anger is a trial
Need someone else to take control
And let this person be a child
And fill all the hearts holes
And walk with them a few miles

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

Confused

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

Talula

Confused

Theres a feeling I can't quite explain
It comes and goes
An agonizing pain
It tightens my chest
As if someone is pulling on my heart
Sooner or later
I'll be torn apart

Theres this feeling
Thats raging inside
Like an angry storm
Rain made of tears I cannot hide

Theres this feeling
I can't make it go away
A dumb emotion
That keeps coming back again
It makes me cry
Till I can't anymore
I guess thats how you know
your heart is broke

Keep it all in I say
Build up a dam
Keep it to yourself I say
don't let them in

Theres this feeling
Does no one understand?
When I'm quiet and alone
When I lie and say I'm okay
I need someone to hug me say
Tell me everything

I try so hard to be the best I can be
But I always end up failing
Wear a smile
So they can't see
Whats behind it
What I'm hiding

It hurts so bad
And I don't know why
I want to disappear
Some days I want to die
Theres this feeling
I can't quite explain
I guess I'll let it build up
Until it breaks the dam

I don't know whats going on. Some days I just cry cause I suddenly feel like I'm nothing. It seems like everything good always gets messed up in the end for me. My best friend may not trust me anymore, my parents are always in my case, and I feel like I can't give the guy I love all he deserves. It hurts so much and I have no idea what to do. How can I talk to someone when I myself don't know whats wrong? So, I know its bad to do, but all I can do is let it all build up inside until the dam breaks. Until I break.

#confused #alone #hurt

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

Song of Songs

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

Melaka Jude

Song of Songs

A major, a minor
A flat and a sharp
The song of a nightingale
The notes of a harp

The jingle of church bells
The clang of a gong
All these help in
Creating a song

The song of a lifetime
The song of a brook
The song of the children
The song of a cook

The song that is sung
From morn to nigh
The song that gives every-
Body a high

A major, a minor
A flat and a sharp
The song of a nightingale
The notes of a harp

The whistle of the blowing wind
The chords of a guitar
All these create
A song from afar

The song of a lifetime
The song of a brook
The song of the children
The song of a cook

The song which is listened to
From morning to night
The song which whispers
To everybody *Goodnight

#life #nature #music #songs

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

Scarlet Laced Seduction

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

Debra A Baugh

Scarlet Laced Seduction

he laid hands and lips upon
canvas of aching nakedness

igniting...

wanton hunger; pressing into
my palate; fingers painting tender
curlicues with subtle strokes

tracing...

each line and curve, tongued
with passions ink as climactic
quivers, pause; nipping as I

ebb and flow...

he rides in cresting waves, teased,
seduction blankets our embrace;
firmness delves deep...as breath escapes us

scarlet lace lays puddled at our feet

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

I still remember you when it rains

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

Kim

I still remember you when it rains

I'm trying to find the right metaphor for the storm
but I ended up mumbling your name.
I can hear your bones break like thunder.
I can hear your cries against my windowpane,
thousands of miles from where you are.

You never thought I would stop running but I did.
I still remember the day when you beg my heart to settle down.
I still remember our little dance in the terrace,
two young people in the night,
experiencing forever in twelve hours.

You were the reason why I feel sad over the sound
of singing cicadas and heartbeats.
You were the reason why I stop leaving things unfinished.

Last night, a friend called and told me how you're doing.
I wonder if your scars still hurt when it's six degrees outside.
I want to cover your shoulder with words and moonlight until it softens.
Until you stop putting your hand on your chest at 2AM to keep it from howling.

I don't remember what type of storm you are anymore,
But I still remember you when it rains.

mulberry tea and half a slice of orange. Our forever ended seven years ago but I still remember you when it rains.

#theonethatgotaway #love #depression

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

I Rest My Consciousness

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

AJ

I Rest My Consciousness

I rest my consciousness
On the proliferating meadows
That stretch toward the sun,
That sway in placid solitude
In the tacit winds
That flow across my body.

I rest my consciousness
In the stars of the night
That caress my jaded visage
And assure me that my wishes
Will manifest themselves
Within my beating heart.

I rest my consciousness
Atop mountains and peaks
That envision a world of harmony
By harboring the aspirations
Of those who stand atop them,
Awe-struck by the omnipresent calm.

I rest my consciousness
In the landscape of my thoughts
That, like the meadows,
Will stretch onward
Until I draw my last breath
And exhale dispassionately.

I rest my consciousness
In the world of make-believe,
In the world that accepts me
Not because I am normal,
But because I can only be content
When I channel my inner wordsmith.

I rest my consciousness
In a night filled with silence
And, as I close my eyes
And let the dark fall over me,
I grin, cognizant
That my dreams are boundless.

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

afterglow at the laundromat

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

Vernon Waring

afterglow at the laundromat

towels mingle toss tease
in an unforgiving rush of water
merrily tumbling through waves
rich with detergent

meanwhile dark fabrics twist
in an angry climactic surf
while lighter colors undulate elsewhere
in a wet frivolous frenzy

dainty lingerie -
in yet another machine -
gently sails in a delicate ballet...
whites, pinks, muted yellows and blues
intermingle playfully as they wait
for the cool rinse cycle to commence
and perform its own unique magic

finally the dryers prevail
and the folded garments rest on a table -
the warm spent players basking
in a glorious afterglow

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

In The Wee Hours

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

Geno Cattouse

In The Wee Hours

I feel you slipping away my love
when the night is cold and still.
When the years rush in and  stand  quietly by my bedroom door,
quiet and mute with sorrowful eyes with shoulders drooped in resignation.

I feel you slipping away my love as I sit here.
As the reality glimmers through and shines upon this page,
the silent rage  now unspoken for want of reason or assignment.
Broken and wasted like a crystal vase with roses strewn across the floor.

I feel you slipping away my love as I grasp feebly at the strings of the beautiful bouquet
that  rises just beyond comprehension and wafts gently on the summer night
to lite tattered and unwilling in far places unseen by our desires.

Embers  softly glowing and now knowing the end has now begun.
Years upon years of clawing at our fears that this was not to be.
A blazing fire dowsed with strife and ire ,no air to stoke the flame.
No time to play the game.  All work and no play makes Jill a dull girl.

I cry quietly in the glow of poor reason. I feel you slipping away my love.
I feel us slipping away now and forever. The shell does just as well to crumble.

A castaway sits on the sandy shore knowing full well that rescue will find
his molding husk frozen in time and empty  in the continuum. His  bones bleached past.
The grinning mask of irony and  frozen regret.

My love our reach exceeded  our grasp but youthful willfulness and hope was the rope.
The rope that we clung to and weathered  the battering breezes as we closed our eyes
to reason after all love will find a way ?.Even love was not enough, but we knew deep down.

I feel you slipping now with eyes wide open.
We watch  as the chasm widens and shrug our shoulders.
Calloused hands tired of trying now. Weary eyes dry from crying now.
willfully stuck and  denying now. I feel you pull away.

I will wonder the desert parched with regret of this I have no doubt.
But deep down I knew this. Hoping against hope. still.
There will be no other to take your place. Who could?.

We gave hope it's chance.
Once we did dance.
Life became duty.
We fought off the wolves.
We turned. We forgot.
We grew apart while joined at the hip.
How funny.
How sad.
Duty bound as love unwound.
No us time.

I feel you slipping, slipping.
Goodbye.
My.
Love.

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

Slippery Places

Jul 2020 Terry Richardson

The Faithful Dreamer

Slippery Places

Do not fear the slippery places.
My Lord whispered unto me.
As you walk upon the road of life,
do not walk around them.
Letting them fill you with terror and strife.
Hold my hand and walk upon them.
For I will surely keep you from falling.
Keep your eyes fixed straight ahead.
Walking with confidence upon the icy path.
Know that I am always with you,
and will guide and protect you.
With my Shepherd's rod and staff.
Do not fear the slippery places
upon life's journey, My child.
For I am ever with you
through every slick and treacherous mile.
Do not fear.
Do not fear.
The slippery places.

(edited)