Author: Patty Richardson

Don’t stand so close to me
Don’t whisper in my ear
Don’t put your hands on me
Then up and disappear.

Don’t tell me that you love me
Your words are meaningless
Don’t put your arms around me
Don’t lean in to steal a kiss.

I know where this is going
I know it won’t end well
There’s no way you can be trusted
You will always kiss and tell.

You reach out to hold me
Then I push you away
Though I’ll always love you
I don’t believe a word you say.

Slow dancing to the music
The wine is being poured
If I’m not real careful
I could easily be lured.

But, I think I’ve learned my lesson
I am so…. so on to you
You are quite the circus charmer
But, not a word you say is true.

Please leave me with my memories
Of the days I spent with you
You were everything I dreamed of
Made my fantasies come true.

When I realized that you lied to me
There was so much I didn’t know
But I knew that it was over
It was time to let you go.

______________________________

Image from Google Images: eauvivrewineryca.ca Eau Vivre Winery

I walk around in circles
Not sure…what’s up or down
Confused, not motivated
My mojo can’t be found.

It’s been suppressed, it’s hidden
Left somewhere in my yard
I try to “make do” without it
But afraid it’s just too hard.

Too hard to get up and out of bed
Comb my hair and wash my face
Put on my trousers and my t-shirt
I feel like such a waste.

I’m totally unproductive
All I do is play my game
Sitting home alone at night
I’m feeling so ashamed.

I wish I had a girlfriend
But I don’t have a job
No one wants to date me
I look like such a slob.

Can’t pull myself together
Need some psychotherapy
Guess I should try and contact her
So she can work on me.

I know I’m feeling sorry
Oh so sorry for myself
I know that I must reach out
Since I’m needing so much help.

I don’t want your pity
Don’t want your sympathy
Guess what I need is a friend
To spend some time with me.

It’s time to get a shovel
Start digging up the yard
I’ve got to find my mojo
Before it gets too dark.

Skipping stones across the water
Walking miles to get to town
To buy some penny candy
Piece by piece or by the pound.

Climbing up the oak tree
To sit up high upon the branches
Spending everyday we had
Taking risks and taking chances.

Walking on the railroad tracks
Across the railroad bridge
Running to the other side
That’s what we often did.

Swinging out, holding on
Dropping down into the river
The water cold, the current swift
On the bank, we’d stand and shiver.

Nothing like a summer day
Lying on the grass
Looking up at the sky above
Wanting this day to last.

Fascinated by your tattoos
All the colors and the names
Inscribed upon your body
A means to stake your claim.

What started as a lover’s heart
Your name written in ink
Once you left ….it got erased
It had to , don’t you think?

The tattoo artist with gun in hand
Projects your every dream
There it is…. permanently drawn
Drawn upon your skin.

Animals, dragons, castles and more
Your every wish is his command
When you get an inkling for more
Just go and see “The Man”.

A pricey desire or habit
Like chips … not satisfied with one
He knows that you’ll be back for more
He waits with his loaded gun.

Full back coverage or an ankle draw
You become obsessed and greedy
Looking for the perfect pic
You have now become quite needy.

A cult, a fad, a true addiction
The artful needle and the pain
You derive a simple pleasure
You go back… again and again.

A symbol of your feelings
A statement or a cause
Think about it carefully
Consider and do pause.

The ink that’s used is permanent
No second chances, once it’s drawn
No matter how hard you scrub it
It will never be all gone.

Considered a badge of honor
Like a sparkling, shiny star
An extension of you and you alone
A testament of who you are.

______________________________

Tattoo by James Richardson…. “THE MAN”.
Courtesy photo.

Not getting any younger
Time to get out and have some fun
Wear that purple t-shirt
The one with stains? Yes, that’s the one.

Flip the bird, smoke some pot
Stay in bed all day
Wear your pajamas to the grocery store
Who cares what people say?

Buy a sport’s car, date a guy
One twenty years your junior
Cougars know how to live
They enjoy being a senior.

Skinny dip at dawn and dusk
Drink beer and wine for breakfast
The rules don’t all pertain to you
Be somewhat wild and reckless.

Speak your mind, don’t hold back
Get yourself a bold tattoo?
Don’t let life pass you by
Do what you want to do.

___________________________
Image from Google Images: dreamstime.com

“Just a stray”, that’s what they say
Whenever you come around
Somewhat unkempt and disheveled
You’re known all over town.

They judge you, but they are wrong
I know you a whole lot better
You are charismatic, an offbeat guy
An eclectic kind of fellow.

You play the flute and violin
You speak seven different languages
You spend your time reading books
Your neighbor’s spend theirs languishing.

They watch you from a distance
You make sculptures in the yard
They wonder what the metal’s for
Don’t think you work that hard.

Degrees in engineering
Psych and philosophy
You qualified for Mensa
And two different PhD ‘s.

We’ve been friends for over two years, now
You’ve been my inspiration
I totally look up to you
Despite your reputation.

__________________________

Image from Google Images: tumblr.com

When I was just a little girl
I wore pig tails in my hair
I climbed lots of trees and monkey bars
And was seldom ever scared.

Could never beat my brother
When we raced home from the park
We would run back home for dinner
And get home before it’s dark.

We built a fort in our backyard
Played “tag” and “hide n seek”
My brother could be kinda mean
He had a nasty streak.

He liked to play tricks on me
He would tease and pull my hair
He’d hide my favorite teddy bear
But, I always knew he cared.

When anyone would bother me
My brother would step in
He would punch them hard or threaten them
They wouldn’t bother me again.

Now that we are older
And gone our separate ways
Living in two different states
Not so very far away.

We keep up on Facebook
Sending greetings everyday
And, when we get together
We still have a lot to say.

My brother, my protector
Always there for me
We share a life time of good times
And, a wealth of memories.

______________________________

Image from Google Images: teacherspayteachers.com

There were thousands of protesters
Stepping up to save the children
People marching, carrying signs
Who’s at fault, who is the villain?

Tell me what’s become of us?
Taking children from their mothers
Putting children into cages
Keeping sisters from their brothers.

Babies crying, mother’s weeping
Families torn apart
No thought of reuniting them
No plan right from the start.

Children bused and transported
So many miles away
All that mothers can do now
Is bow their heads to pray.

In the hands of a biased government
They wait to be deported
Hoping their children will be returned
And this evil can be thwarted.

Social outcry, judicial threats
Crimes against humanity
What can we do to stop all this
Abolish this insanity?

America, the home of the brave
Freedom for one and all
We must stand up and be heard
Resist and stand up tall.

Walking down the sandy path
Thru the trees with hanging moss
I came upon a small crab
Who told me, she was lost.

It was quiet in the woodland
I faintly heard her speak
As I walked along the path
She was heading for the beach.

“Hello, Mrs Possum, she called out loud
I stopped and looked around
She was red with small black eyes
She was lying on the ground.

I bent down to talk to her
She was there all by herself
She looked frightened and afraid
She was in need of help.

Said that she had lost her way
Was separated from her family
She wandered off in the dark
“Please kind sir, oh won’t you save me?”

I was afraid to pick her up
She had two sharp, pincher claws
She promised not to hurt me
So I held her in my paws.

She made her way upon my back
We walked for quite awhile
Once we made it to the beach
She looked at me and smiled.

“I don’t know how to thank you
You have surely saved my life
I thought my days were over
But, now I am all right.”

“No worries, I’m happy for you
Hope you enjoy your day”
The opossum turned and waved good bye
She watched him walk away.

_______________________________

Image from Google Images: youtube.com

Don’t take back our freedom
We do have a voice
Crying out to be heard
We have rights, it’s our choice.

Our bodies, our property
Not yours to govern
White men in black robes
Don’t control the discussion.

This isn’t right
To break families apart
Show them some mercy
You’re breaking their hearts.

Babies are wailing
Mothers cuffed and in shackles
Children in cages
How could you let this happen?

Protesting groups
They have come here to gather
To reunite families
That should be together.

Listen and act
For soon they will vote
They’re relying on you
To stand up….give them hope.

_______________________________

Image from Google Images: mapfamiliesbelong.org