It is our consciousness that lives alone
That is why I stare into your eyes
I wonder about you and if you are the same as I
Beyond our chanting
And our place between Kings and beggars

Is my mission to avoid death
Or just the mere thought of it

So I begin where delusion has led me to a new world
And yet I do not risk my life
I am no mariner crossing vast oceans
That would be remind me too much of death
And yet acquiring breadfruit is enough to circumnavigate my fate

The pleasantness of why we are here is the story we write
Our purpose must be believed
Whether we find it or not
What is good and evil are equal in the sight of a mortal man
He cannot conquer one or the other
He can only hope to find solace and joy in humility
In the building of a home
Or the love of a child
For honor beyond that only becomes tinder for his own glory

Am I so far evolved from lions
Dignity
Strength
Courage
Unquestioned worth
I see it in their pride
I am only able to reason the things they do not care to ponder

But there was a man
His greatness unquestioned
He was unafraid to die
So much that he risked his life everyday
Each new day a blessing
A chance to save mankind
To remind them that the path is peace
Not power
Every bone was broken
But not his soul
That was their mistake
For every blow sounded the drum
And God heard it well
And though the dove could not find him
Still he knew
In him he was well pleased

There were many men
But so too were there women
Waiting for freedom
Waiting in line
For the men came first
And they admired them
They knew who must accept the blows
And though they lived apart
A warrior loves unconditionally
And she knew he would die for her
As he would die for his people
It was enough to know these things

That is how they lived

That is how they lived

That is how they lived

That is how they lived

In mourning always
They knew they were part of a funeral procession
They took turns as pall bearers for their past
They learned to laugh with honor
And cry long enough to live again
For as no storm lives forever
No heart can be broken that is willing to heal itself

If only I knew how

you are a diamond and there is a speck of eyeliner winged out and smudged on your cheekbone.
even diamonds have flaws.

we are driving down a narrow highway onto a bridge and you snort when you laugh. i'm dreaming because i don't think real life has an 8mm film reel collecting all the times we felt like we were flying. when we felt like we were in a movie and we were heroes. we were royalty and when you smile, it feels like heaven. it feels like all the gold in the world has been poured into my veins, it feels like good drugs and good friends and a good life.

i have sunglasses on my face and a thin tan line on my shoulder blade and your freckles dot your eyes more than any alphabet, a play on words, witty banter, your solid, subtle smile with parentheses near your cheeks.

when i think of you, i think of cherry chapstick, a whole pizza to ourselves, and your glasses. i think of hope and fate and destiny and love, not the kind of love we hear thrown around during friday night football, but the kind of love that doesn't burn out. the kind of love that resembles crystal and fun times and the things that quiet poets write about after they drink ***** for the first time. the love that keeps its infinities hidden under its sleeves, like the pen ink on your arms under your sweater.

i think of flowers and cigarettes and laughing and smoking and crossing everything off of our bucket lists, running to little rivers and giving new life to old constellations, telling prophets our stories; we became royalty, we became the night that our friends dreamed of.

There's this sort of peaceful dream
I'm not allowed to have anymore
Life is too calm
I'm in too much control
Everything is too perfect

I'm not allowed to think like that.

All of my paint has to have chips in it,
There's always a light burnt out,
Half bright, half beautiful
The shadows are always in the wrong places
The windows have to be closed

I don't get to dream of precious waves or hour glasses
I have to dream of crashing ships on jagged rocks,
My mermaids have claws,
The lighthouse keeper has been shot dead.

No one is there to hold me at two am
All of the people shove me back in the chaos
Take my ground away
I am always the one to tell myself,
"It'll be alright."
And
"It was just a dream."
But usually,
It sounds more like crying.


If someday you should chose to love me
It will be easy for me, but not for you
I want to love and love and love until I drown in it
But that's too deep for some, for me, apparently
I am not allowed to love with my whole person
To love unconditionally would be a peaceful dream
*A rose garden, a delicate dress and a fragile girl

Reposted by special request from a very special friend:

Cowboys and sidekicks,
were not the only heroes
We idolized, and ran to see
at those "Saturday picture shows."

There was "Superman, and "Batman",
and that magic word, "SHAZAM."
The "cliff-hanger" serials
we hoped would never end.

There were all types of villains-
even "space invaders"-
It was then, that I changed my mind-
to become, a "Caped Crusader."

As those Saturdays passed by-
how I wished that I could fly-
And all I needed was a cape
to soar throughout the sky.

I grabbed a towel, to make a cape,
the largest towel that I could find-
And I didn't tell anyone
what was really on my mind.

I went thru the kitchen
out the door, into the yard-
Mom thought I went out to play,
so I caught her off her guard.

A couple of the neighbor kids,
I now call my "entourage"
gathered with excitement
as I climbed, to the top of the garage.

I stood there with my legs apart-
I could feel the pulsing of my heart-
hands, braced against my hips-
then, the tightening of my lips-

I knew that somewhere in the city-
Crime was out there brewing-
and then I heard my mother's voice-
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!!!

Well, I tell you folks, there's not a tone
   that can evoke such heights of fear-
And the superpowers I thought I had,
   suddenly disappeared(as did the other kids)

There was screaming, and yelling-
and amidst the clamor and the din-
Neighbors, looking out their windows-
saying, "it's just that kid again."

I didn't know what she was saying-
but I'll never forget that frown,
And her words  got a little worse
when she had to help me down

Banished to the bedroom-
on my bed, with the cape that I had wore-
Contemplating what dreadful fate
my future had in store.

I heard the doorknob turning-
then dad stepped thru the door
He knew I had been crying
as my head hung toward the floor.

What I thought would happen, didn't-
as he sat down on the bed-
then with his hand he gently brushed,
the top of my head.

He explained to me the difference
of what was real, and fantasy-
That those movies are adventures,
not real, just fun to go and see.

Here I am, seventy-two and still alive-
and sometimes I wonder
how I've managed to survive

On my mantle are two pictures
that make me happy, and make me sad-
for those real superheroes-
They're my mother, and my dad.

copyright: richard riddle, August 05, 2014

We ask of you now
What skill do you possess?
For in the new world
Only giving is progress

We ask only for life
And not self-interest
What will be left behind
Will no longer exist

I am of passage
By air, land or sea
I follow Cassiopeia and Orion
For light from dark is how I see

A mariner by trade
Yes you may come aboard
And by your guidance
We will find our reward

I am of construct
By hammer, saw and nail
Will you know of comfort
Without my talents to avail?

A carpenter by trade
Yes you may come aboard
And by your shelter
We will find our reward

I am of nourishment
I will reach into the sea
By hook, line and sinker
This you will be taught by me

A fisherman by trade
Yes you may come aboard
And by your daily bread
We will find our reward

I am of creation
I bring brush, voice and fifths
By color, words and melody
You will know of your gifts

An artist by trade
Yes you may come aboard
And by your imagination
We will find our reward

I am of healing
And a facilitator of birth
I will reach into my bag
And life I will bring forth

A doctor by trade
Yes you may come aboard
And by your oath
We will find our reward

I am of spirituality
And you will know of no darkness
For the spirit that flows inside
Will remind you of God’s promise

A shaman by trade
Yes you may come aboard
And through your prayers
We will find our reward

But by who's hand will we be guided?
Though it was I who rang the bell of freedom
I shall remain behind while you decide
For no King of the flesh lives in Eden

And with no lawyers to confuse
Or politicians that lie
The dreamer will wave farewell
But his vision will never die