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”,
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
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
I hope today brings you one step closer to where you want to be and one step farther than where the monsters live. -Mandy Ricks
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
Summer arrived in a ball of heat
and humidity.
People bask in the sun wishing for
a great tan, an icy drink, and a hot companion.
And it’s true, your summer wishes may come true,
But sometimes the sun shines too bright,
blinding us to things that aren’t gorgeous at all.
So, remember, stay on guard, and never jump first.-Mandy Ricks
The instigators sit in electric climates basking in their righteousness.
Buildings crumble, bodies buried, children cry.
Slop dished out – bullets pierce the hungry.
Lies, heat, hate, fuel the fervid war.
Is peace too much to ask?
Yes, dammit it is.
-Mandy Ricks
Beneath the smile lived the fear.
Uncertainty was his only friend.
Take my hand I invited, I will help.
I will hide and care for you.
Generosity eased his pain and
we all languished in my superiority.
But one day I became enraged,
changed my mind,
and threw him out.
I sneered at his tears and
congratulated myself on the states
I am.
Just call me, America
Those that don’t know preach
second chances and starting over.
But self forgiveness is a difficult thing.
Perhaps the best we can hope for
is acceptance of our mistakes,
acknowledgement of our efforts,
and a gentle heart to hold our shame.-Mandy Ricks
By roar, summer comes screeching in by drone, spewing heat, anger, and destruction. Sent by cowards sitting in judgment. And the people cower, running for shade, drenched in dirt and tears of starvation. How can this be real? Isn’t there supposed to be a ceasefire? Maybe only for those in the white tower.
-Mandy Ricks
Thousands of miles,
bombs are dropped,
to threaten retaliation.
A plane flies,
A ball of fire,
families die,
and lives are destroyed.
Free speech is tested,
Democracy loses its lustre.
A dictator calls himself a President,
and the people cry.
-Mandy Ricks
Scarred hands clutch broken dreams.
I bled through nights no on dared to scream.
Ashes crown the ones who burn.
Each wound a page no chance to turn.
Still, I rise, too fierce to mourn.
-Mandy Ricks
Mandy Ricks 