Author: Patty Richardson

There’s a monster in my bedroom
He’s there most every night
Fearful he might run amuck
If I turn off the light.

He gets restless and quite noisy
He’s been known to wet the bed
It’s almost time for dinner
He’ ll keep quiet if he’s fed.

He eats staples and loves crayons
I leave them on the floor
He snorts if he’s still hungry
Sometimes I give him more.

He does just what he wants to
I see him in my dreams
He lives beneath my bed frame
He is friendly …. never mean.

His fur is coarse and stubby
His teeth …. an emerald green
In the light I see his long, sharp claws
They sparkle and they gleam.

He makes a lot of noises
Guess he just can’t help  himself
I heard him whine and whimper
Wonder if  he’s feeling well. 

He offers very little
No rent or tax relief
So little compensation
Since he’s only…. Make Believe.

I held on tight
Out on a limb
Things took a turn
Looked dark and  grim.

I looked around
I hedged my bets
I thought I’d found
A safety net.

All the while
You had a plan
You soaked me dry
Then up and ran. 

Never in
My wildest dreams
Did I think
You’d plot and scheme.

Play me for 
A total fool
So calculating
Shrewd and cool.

Never thought
We’d end like this
No parting words
No hug …. no kiss.

A con…. a crook
A shark …. a snake
My worst mishap
My worst mistake.

What becomes of cons and thieves
Players who will lie and cheat? 
In the end …. do they get theirs?
It seems so callous and unfair. 

On the surface … slick and shrewd
They’re calculating every move
Often vain and over zealous
May come across as sly  and jealous.

But, don’t  confuse their wants and needs
They’ll cut you loose …. then watch you bleed.
No remorse …. no consequence
No desire to make amends.

You hope for karma coming through
To give them back what they are due
But, what if evil does prevail
If justice can’t balance the scales?

There’s no guilt …. there’s no regret
You might as well give up …. forget
Be thankful that you can move on
Be grateful they are finally gone.

Off the wall
And out of control
Out of your mind
So cunning and bold. 

You take it all in
You spin it around
You spit it back out
It’s thrown on the ground.

You take what you want
You never give back
If there’s something there
You’ll follow the tracks.

A taker ….  a thief
You look for the gold
Your heart can be bought
Your heart can be sold. 

There’s ice in your veins
An empty black hole
A scammer, a cheater
So heartless …. so cold.

I should have known
But I missed the clues
Wish I had known
Before I met you.

No I can’t …. can’t count on you
Still can’t believe you left
Walked right out …. no looking back 
Just wish I could forget.

Why’d ya leave …. just disappear?
Why were you so damn cruel?
Why’d ya have to  leave me here?
I feel like such a fool.

All this while  …. it’s been so long
Since I laid eyes on you
Tried my best to get you back
But, nothing I could do.

Can’t let go … can’t  shake it off
The one I loved the most
Left me with a broken heart
Then headed for the coast. 

In the dark …. with thoughts of you
Feeling sad and blue
Can’t stop thinking about you now 
Still pining over you. 

I was feeling so alone
Till the night when we first met
I listened so intently
To the things that you had said.

That smile upon your face
That dimple on your chin
Your hair….so soft and long
Gently blowing in the wind.

You seemed so sure… so confident 
Never knew someone like you
“Will you take a walk with me
Though we’ve had a drink or two?”

It was late, but didn’t matter
I was hooked …. head over hills
Didn’t care what time it was
Loved the way you made me feel.

We headed down the rabbit hole
No need for sweet persuasion
I followed you so willingly 
Consumed with expectation.

The ins and outs ….. the twists and turns
Took us quickly round the bend
You took my hand, you held it tight
Right up until the end.

But, nothing lasts forever
Though I wished like hell it could
Things often end the way they are
They end the way they should. 

That look was in your eyes
I could feel it … I just knew
Before we kissed good night
I had a feeling about you.

I stepped right off the ledge
I felt a surge within
I jumped right in headfirst
Wanting to be more than friends.

With the stars and moon above
Everything appeared just  right
You looked into my eyes
Pulled me close and held me tight.

When we kissed for the first time
I knew we’d be together
Not only for tonight
But for always and forever.

The stars were glistening 
There was no one quite like you
I could feel something was happening 
It was clear…you felt it, too.

Don’t reach for me
I won’t be there
Don’t call my name
Don’t stop and stare. 

We came so far
Not far enough
I wasn’t quite
So strong … so tough.

Thought what we had
Could transcend time
I had no doubt 
That you were mine.

But foolishly
I never knew
I missed the signs
Ignored the clues.

You carried on
I sat at home
You knew that I
Was all alone.

I wanted you 
At any cost
Though knowing I’d been
Double crossed.

With blinders on
I muddled through
Told myself
I could trust you.

All the while
The end was near
There before me
Crystal clear. 

Found you with
Somebody else 
No thoughts of me
Here by myself.

It’s over now
Time to move on
Things will be better
With you gone.

No point 
In trying anymore
Let me show you 
To the door.

Here’s your coat
Please take your hat
Don’t want you here
Don’t want you back.

I watched you from the window
Watched you walk across the street
I knew that it was over
Though you tried to be discreet.

The bill sent from the florist
The excuse when I asked why
I smelled her sweet perfume
Did my best ….tried not to cry.

The candles …  and the flowers
No longer meant for me
I had to let you go
It was time to set you free.

The late nights …. way too often
I knew what you would say
I tried, but I just couldn’t
Couldn’t make you want to stay.

I couldn’t make you happy
There was no pleasing you
You said that you were sorry
Can’t you see it’s me …. not you?

My heart was badly damaged
It was broken, cracked in two.
No way that we could fix it
Even though I still loved you.

That total empty feeling
That’s taken over me
A void so deep within my soul
Has drained my energy.

Quietly without a sound
No whistles and no bells
You had sadly given up
It was over… I could tell.

A spark that set my world on fire
Ignited every flame
Now had lost its amber glow
Each day was just the same.

No arguments, or unkind words
Just a sad  and empty stare
No parting explanation
You simply didn’t care.

No passion left , no tenderness
No twinkle in your eye 
Anxious to walk out the door
You simply said, “Goodbye”.