My mom sleeps early.
She isn't a night owl.
She lives in the day.
And everything around when
the sky is bright.
the streets are loud.
She leaves the house at 9pm. sharp
And went off in her snores.

My dad stays up late.
Until twelve.
And when the last 60 seconds
ended the day.
He'd turn off the TV
"Has been a long day"
he'd say.
Yawn.
And he'd go to bed.

And me.
I'm no bubbly girl.
or pretty.
cheesy blondy.
Maybe just a good nerd.
But I know the night.
And I love it.
1a.m. is free.
My private afternoon.
with cookies and tea.
And I'd turn on the lights.
Walk with my ankles light
off the ground.

Turtle hasn't sleep.
no he's like me!
He'd wiggle his tail and
swim
towards my face.
As if to say,
"heya buddie"
he should have eaten but
he knows.
he knows.
I feed my Turtle at
one
in the morning.
And he never says no.

I don't want to seem self absorbed
But I'm beautiful inside and out
My exterior is tough and powerful
But my beautiful skin is soft and fragile
The veins running through me are made of gold
My skin is as bright as my soul
Everywhere I go I get admired
But guess what?
I'm just a turtle
**And I belong to the beautiful Donna Bella. I am her heart and she's mine

Spy the turtle-there!
Playing peek-a-boo with me,
loving the whimsy.

Speeding along a curved road
Eyes watching the asphalt’s twists and turns
I happen upon a substantial rock
Lying along the road on my course
It takes a few seconds for me to realize
That big brown rock isn’t what it seems
The rock has a yellow neck, legs, a head and tail
That beckon me to stop despite what lies ahead
My reasoning forces me to ponder on it’s future
Will the next car around the curve stop for this comrade
Or will it be struck and left for dead?
I put my car in park and hurry to pick it up
One lonely turtle has found itself being removed
From the path of oncoming vehicles
Taken to the grassy side of the road
Facing the opposite direction
In hopes that it will find it’s way far from
The impending danger of traffic
Now, this one turtle has a better chance
At living out it’s life at it’s own slow pace

©2014 by Regina Riddle

Sitting here,  I wonder
Maybe we aren't so different
Maybe there is good in you
After all.

My faith it grows,
Just a drop,
But enough for me to
Escape my small shell of hatred.

But just like that
My drop evaporates
And I am stuck
Back in my shell again.

I lay down in my bed
It's been a long day
I pull my knee's inward
and let out a sigh

I stare at the ring on my finger
the one you gave to me
I hold it and twist it in my fingers
until i have examined every color, every butterfly.

I close my eyes and clench my necklace
I trace the shape of the turtle with my figertips
I feel the silver in my hands
and remember when it was in yours

When I close my eyes a tear runs down my cheek
A tear of joy and sadness
Your sweet memory dances in my mind
Your love pierces through my heart

I miss you, I love you
exhaustion overwhelms me
I am ready to dream of you
Until I finally get to see you

Sweet dreams my love.