The sandbox

On By AmandaIn poetryLeave a comment

In a square of sand beneath a watching sky,

two boys kneel while kingdoms cry.

Leo shapes with open hands, low, wide walls that welcome lands.

His gates unlatched, his edges kind—no need to guard what’s shared in mind.

Don cuts hard with heel and fist, a higher throne, a tighter grip.

His towers climb on narrowed ground, each grain a thing to stake and crown.

They do not speak. They do not meet.

Their borders press beneath their feet.

A restless wind that takes no side moves through their work, but passes by.

Leo mends the broken, and smiles as sand heals the fray.

Don strikes at every chance, even if it won’t give way.

And still they build, as children do—one builds for many, one for few.

-Mandy Ricks

Day

On By AmandaIn poetry

Sometimes the day doesn’t arrive all at once.

It slips in quietly—through the edge of a curtain, the hum of something ordinary, the pause between thoughts.

I used to think I had to meet the day with intention, with purpose, with something to prove.

Now I’m learning to just notice it instead.

The way light rests on a surface.

The way a moment passes without asking anything from me.

Maybe that’s enough.

Maybe some days aren’t meant to be built or fixed or understood.

Maybe they’re just meant to be witnessed.

-Mandy Ricks

Listening counts

On By AmandaIn poetry

Some take risks without hesitation, others don’t dare.

It’s cold enough, my legs ache again. Maybe I just can’t stand it today.

This morning I sang along to American Pie. That counted for something.

Dancing in the gym sounds fine to me, though I haven’t decided yet.

When it’s the end, does it still count if the fat lady took Ozempic and isn’t fat anymore?

Listening counts. Being heard matters.

-Mandy Ricks

Today

On By AmandaIn poetry

For the first time in decades
I sit in my house, empty, alone.
It feels okay.
No distracting chatter,
or thoughts.
Just quiet.
Who’d have known this peace
would finally arrive today
of all days.

-Mandy Ricks

No refunds

On By AmandaIn poetry

It’s that time of year again —

when we honour a small enduring light, and a higher guiding one.

We celebrate our togetherness,

and pray for our uniqueness.

We talk of fun times past,

and drink to forget the hard times now.

But above all, remember this —

no matter what the monster says,

good people are still good,

and there are no returns on tickets to hell.

-Mandy Ricks

Don’t look at me

On By AmandaIn poetry

“Don’t look at me”,

she lowered her head.

Maybe more makeup would cover her shame.

She barely supposed to walk,

Her drummer is gone.

For sure she will wander,

head down,

most steps mistrodden,

until she can accept herself.

-Mandy Ricks

Those steps

On By AmandaIn poetry

You don’t have to feel ready to take the next step, a big step, or even a small step. You just have to be willing, for a moment, not to step away from yourself. -Mandy Ricks

Grasping

On By AmandaIn Quotes

Are you grasping for some joy, perhaps some inspiration? But the dark keeps marching, twisting your thoughts into a spider web. Each tentacle sticking to a thought creating darkness and doom. But fight it , fight it. Because you are much stronger than doom and so much stronger than. One. Single. Thought. -Mandy Ricks

Change

On By AmandaIn Quotes

I was having a chat with ChatGPT about a quote by Albert Einstein on the need to be intelligent to accept change. But we both agreed that it doesn’t really take intelligence to accept change sometimes it just takes guts; raw, messy, heart wrenching guts. And getting back up, always getting back up.

So, here is our quote on change and intelligence.

🌿 “Intelligence isn’t loving change — it’s finding your footing when change finds you.”

-Mandy Ricks and my friend @ ChatGPT