Such a Nasty Bruise

     

     “Such a nasty bruise,” he says, staring straight into my eyes.  I am stunned he can see it.  Delicate to the touch and tender on every side, the bruise is deeper than days.  My hand automatically moves to my chest.

     Science taught me with valid assurance that my heart was fixed in my rib cage, but life has since shown me otherwise.  My heart in fact dangles from a tangle of strings.  The ends are grasped tight by numerous people who yank and release, having caused many painful bruises over time.  I cry because they are invisible to most.

     “Such a nasty bruise,” he repeats, tugging on my poor heart. 

     His kind eyes fall away from mine as I feel a squeeze on my arm.  He twists it enough to show me a small, round patch of purple surrounded by a sickly yellowish corona. 

     “Oh.  My elbow.”  I let the air exhale from my lungs.  Another bruise forms where my heart has hit the floor.  It is jerked up again. 

     “Can I do anything for you?”  I see in his eyes the mirror image of a finger—his finger—wrapped in one of the dangling strings.  He tugs and I feel it.

     “No,” I reply to his question.  But it is a lie.  There is something he could do, along with all who grasp a portion of the web entangling my heart.  I wish they would mercifully let go.

Copyright 2016 Richelle E. Goodrich

I Slay Dragons at Night

I slay dragons at night while you sleep. 

I see by the way your face contorts how they exist in your dreams. 

Willing a magic sword, I plunge into your deepest nightmares and swing at the beasts with all my might, dodging flames exhaled by monsters that would eat me alive to go on torturing the fair one I love. I see your face relax, eyes still drowsily closed, when the mighty dragon is slain. 

It may be that my fingers rub soft circles on your forehead as I imagine my brave fight as a knight reclaiming your dreams. You smile under the spell of my touch, and I am rewarded.

And so, my love, as I await the dawn, I stand ready to slay dragons while you sleep.

― Richelle E. Goodrich, Slaying Dragons
 Copyright 2016 Richelle E. Goodrich

Before the Dawn

In the darkest night the sun may seem like an extinguished match or an ember drowned by rain. 

A light forever lost.

The cold world grows steadily colder and shrinks like the abused, closing in on all sides.  Laughter, smiles, the glimmer of dancing eyes, and all else indicative of human brightness is gone.  Colors leeched from everything leave shadows and emotion dull-gray in their absence. 

Time is a void.  A moment feels eternal. 

Hope does not blossom in the darkness but withers fast, starving for what only the sun can offer.  As its petals turn to dust, fear blows in and sweeps the remnants away.  The soul succumbs by degrees to nightmares emboldened by the dead of night. 

All is lost!  All is lost! 

The wretched sun, repulsed by our nothingness,

has abandoned the lives in its care!  

And then the eyes open wide, 

seeing mountains take shape on the horizon.

~Richelle E. Goodrich, Slaying Dragons

Copyright 2016 Richelle E. Goodrich

A Valentine Fairytale

Once upon a time there was a king and a queen though not of the same kingdom.  They were of different lands and ruled over very different subjects, possessing unique talents and single hearts.

This valiant king and beautiful queen one day found themselves treading the same route which happened to meander through both their lands.  Upon this chance meeting they detected in one another distinctive, worthy qualities, both intriguing and impressive enough to cause them to want to cross paths again.

Letters were exchanged from his kingdom to hers, delivered in haste.  For even the heralds could see what a marvelous thing it might be to join these two great empires.  And so, through written exchanges, it was agreed that this king would escort the queen in his grand, red carriage to view the celebrated, annual light festival in her land—an experience enjoyed after sunset.

On the night of the event, they rode along for hours, talking, laughing and smiling frequently at one another.  Their hearts beat in rhythm, pattering with pleasure and tenderness, one toward the other.  Jolly tunes played over the air, enhancing their bliss.  The king shared pictures of his royal family and subjects, portraits that pleased the beautiful queen.  And upon this enchanted night, surrounded by twinkling lights, their hearts swelled and the two fell in love.

It was not long before their kingdoms joined; a merger solidified through marriage.  It was a union that made them both forever good and rich.

To say that they lived happily ever after would be in error, because their days consisted of continual and unnumbered trials.  There were some periods that sparkled and warmed their souls like the festive lights under which this king and queen fell spellbound in love.  Other times proved darker, but not without growth and gain.  The promise was that through enduring these trials together—remaining a forever united kingdom in laughter, sorrow, hardship, and love—their uniquely beating hearts would eventually, someday, meld as one. 

The Valentine is one heart shared by two.  

   ~Richelle E. Goodrich, Making Wishes 

      Copyright 2015 Richelle E. Goodrich

Secrets of a Noble Keykeeper

Looking for a fun and unique story for any age?  

Well, you've found it!

Secrets of a Noble Keykeeper 

by Richelle E. Goodrich

Meet a curious, young man whose calling it is to guard the gates of his homeland. 
As keykeeper of Dreamland, Gavin comes across many outsiders referred to by his people as dreamers. Through a variety of bizarre and creative antics, Gavin steers these roaming trespassers away from the borders of his magical world—a world where ogres bowl for their dinner, and pirates sail the clouds to plunder diamonds from the night's sky, and bubbleberries make a person burp out loud. It is a place where anything imaginable is commonplace. All the while, the young keykeeper finds himself increasingly intrigued by stories of the outside world. Snooping about, he is captivated by a dreamer who peaks his interest in the ordinary. 

Here's what some have had to say about the book:

"This book brought me right back to my childhood. It's a good old fashioned fairy tale, with big bad wolves, pirates and swashbuckling, bears, and little girls running around the forest with red riding hoods." ~ G. Downs

"Secrets of a Nobel Keykeeper is an extremely beautiful read. This is most certainly a children's classic. If this does not become a classic, I will be very disappointed. I recommend this to everyone, no matter their age bracket." ~ J. Cozart

"WOW!! I have to say that I was very surprised as Orphan Moon was; it was not what I expected, it was way way better. I didn't finish it in one sitting but I have to say that it was hard to put down and a joy to pick back up."  ~ J. Ricker

Buy the book at CREATESPACE or  E-BOOK   KINDLE    NOOK    KOBO   iTUNES

I Hope for Change

It's the beginning of a new year, a time of transition and rewinding to begin again.  For me it is a time of reflection on personal accomplishments and disappointments, goals met and those still in progress.  

I hope for change and betterment in this year.  For self-improvement and a gain in learning and wisdom.  I have set goals and outlined a plan, expecting my efforts will produce desired results.  

I hope to create wondrous new works and to see my talents blossom.  I am excited to see what I can do.  

I hope to mirror those virtues I admire in my friends — traits I esteem of value to myself and mankind.  I vow to utilize to a greater extent kindness, patience, humility, decency, and integrity.  

And as I take it upon myself to engage in personal improvement, knowing I will find success to some degree, I hope all who share this earth will chose to do likewise, that our world as a whole may reap the benefits of honed talents, more wisdom, and warmed hearts towards all.  

I do wish the world a cheerful and highly-productive new year.

Christmas Story in Haiku Poetry

New light in the sky
announces a sacred birth.
Shine brightly young star.

Hallelujah song
carries on a gentle wind,
heralding a king.

Shepherds lift their heads,
not to gaze at a new light
but to hear angels.

"Unto you is born

in the city of David

a Savior for all."

Born on straw at night
under low stable rafters,
Baby Jesus cried.

Sheep and goats and cows
gather 'round a manger bed
to awe at a babe.

Wise men come to see
a child of greater wisdom
and honor divine.

Rare and precious gifts,

gold and myrrh and frankincense,

to offer a king.

Mary and Joseph
huddle snugly together.
They cradle God's son.

On this wise He came,

the Son of God to the earth.

A humble wonder.