"Pettiness, and jealousy, go together.

But, there is not a place for it here on HP. We write what we wish, what we feel, how we feel; about our lives, loves, adventures; our spirituality; we write because it's a beautiful hobby for many of us, and not to begin a competition as to who can do better.
There are so many on this site whose talent I so admire since I joined the site 2 years ago. Because of this nonsense, we recently lost a great writer and friend, whom I will miss terribly. Those that participate in the pettiness, jealousy, hatred, and discontent, are in a minority. Hopefully, the other contributors, writers, poets, essayists, old and new alike, also realize this. Let us not give up our seats on this "Poet's Train!"

copyright: richard riddle-August 18, 2015

it's her and her dogs
going for a walk, - the phone
hasn't rang, so why not?
they bark
she smiles
they snarl
she retracts the leash
But they're free.
Dancing without smoking.
A ballet of confusion.
Wave to the neighbors!
With a styrofoam cup she's holding
She's holding the leash,
She barks,
They dart back,
She smiles behind big sunglasses.
It's just her dogs and her
going on a walk.

to be watched all day

We walk the web tonight to
trap some putz hugging light like
stars falling without expectations
and longing driveways and rivers
cement and pathogens
to someday be Home for your
occasional lost soul.
Your absense is your absinthe.
The grass chases the moon.
Begging for release, don't just
hide in the shadows - smiling
for freedom.
Go get it.

Drama queens at work? Hollering? Worst sound

I was once free,
Free to do what appealed me,
Flying from east to west,
And north to south.

I flew to lowlands and highlands,
In search of food,
To feed me and my kids.
To take a break away from my nest.

Then one day a huntsman caught me.
He locked me up in a cage,
It was so small that I'd suffocate.
I couldn't spread my wings.

I was taken to a house,
It was full of cockroach and mouse,
The huntsman fed me bird seeds.
They smelt of raw meat.

Hesitantly I ate what he gave,
I did what he wanted.
Because my life was on stake.
Thanks to my idiocy.

I wished I never flown to this jungle,
Where this cruel man resided.
In this dark and haunted nest
If this is what it's called.

He cut off my wings,
My beautiful blue wings !
He sells them to people.
Such an evil man.

If only I was a human,
I'd take my revenge.
But right now all I have to do is relax,
And hope that I live my life either his way or my way.

When the darkness sets in
and you let it consume you
it feels like falling;
falling in a bottomless hole,
and under its pulling force
you feel your demons stirring
finding a way
to get out
and to take over ...
Clawing your soul from inside
getting restless,
causing pain,
so you just decide to
unleash them
and let your demons out
for a HUNT !!