“Come my children, and gather around,
For there is a lesson to be learned.
About a young man named Icarus,
and his father’s words he spurned.

Now, young Icarus, he believed,
knew all there was to know-
But, as you hear this story-
you will learn it wasn’t so.

Icarus, and his father-
both prisoners of Crete,
Planned to make good their escape
from the Cretian tyrant's fleet-

They shaped two frames from willow wood-
and sheets of woven flax-
Then took the feathers of a frigatebird
put to the frames with sealing wax

His father warned him, as the wind began to blow-
“There is a danger to being aloft,
So, to keep the wax from turning soft
do not fly too high, or low.”

But , to his father he didn’t listen-
and soared higher toward the sun-
And when the wax began to melt
Icarus knew his fate was dealt -

And he fell, disappearing, into the sea.

Now, the gods on Mount Olympus-
believed it was a matter to discuss
So, they all agreed to change his name, to-
Dumbassius!!

Copyright-Richard Riddle 03-07-2014

To all of you, who have taken the time-
to read my works of prose-
Whether all, or just one line-
I believe it keeps us close.

So, keep your seats on this "poet's train"
and keep your pen in hand-
Do not be afraid to "speak your mind-
let your brain expand!!

Have a great holiday season!!
copyright Richard Riddle December 16, 2013

I wonder why Cupid aims his love arrows
at quiet lads and innocent lasses
then unrequited love would bring sorrows
of broken hearts and bleeding bruises


I wonder why lovers give scarlet roses
then leave them out in the sun to die
in this game of love somebody loses
then gambles again, for another try


I wonder why my heart beats, still
when it was shattered to million pieces
I feel the adrenalin- a screaming thrill
then I cry when it all ceases


I wonder why people tend to fall
to a false promise or a white lie
will i answer when i receive the call?
would I?


I wonder why..