Regel

It seems to me that I get to know you better the more I read your work Yog. In life there are only a few people you meet that will always be there for you. You'll probably count them on one hand. Let's say it's the difference between friend and true friend. When you meet one, hang on to them. It's a long and treacherous journey ahead.

I am sure you know what I mean.

You are already an interesting young woman Arwen. It seems that life has taught you a mechanism to deal with sorrow and pain. Drawing it out on paper, examing it in the cold light of day and then moving on.

I liked your lyrics but I am sorry at same time. Only thing one can hope for is that another more worthy person will come along. Thanks for sharing.

Regel surveys the damage. Wincing as he plucks out a three inch sliver from his calf.

He motions for the waitress and orders another drink. This time it was rye and ice. Tipping the waitress and excusing himself for the spilt drink Regel quirps to her "This is exactly why I don't excerise. The ice keeps jumping out my glass!" He motioned for another chair and sat down and tended to his calf. He stared at YanYanGanaffi and Sweet as they engaged in conversation. The pulsing ruby put an end to that. All speaking stopped as the crystal began to suntan YanYanGanaffi's chest. Then came the screaming.

Regel rose and took his glass and placed it between the ruby and YanYanGanaffi's chest. He watched as the heat of the ray begun to quickly melt the ice in his glass. Release from the ruby's grasp YanYanGanaffi slump into the giant lizard's arms and out of harms way. As Regel pulled away he commented "...that's quite enough water thank you."

The gameroom was a collection of startled faces and suddenly......

Regel walks into the poker tournament and quietly sits down. He waves over a waitress and orders a rye and water. He is dressed entirely in black but seems to wear a tireless smile. He surveys the other players and immediately starts to look for any tells. Finally he begins to speak. "This should be fun, who's ready to bet?"

I seldom player poker unless my friends feel they need a small donation from me. I would be happy to play if there is still a spot open for me.

P.S. Regel is all IN!!!

Caring alone is never enough. Care enough to call and say hello. Care enough to visit and spend some time. Care enough to stand up and speak your mind (even if you know it's not a popular position). "I care but I did nothing." what a confusing message. I care Sweetcherrie enough to acknowledge that this was an emotional poem and a true friend is someone you don't have to explain this to. They are just there.

Dear Tattered,

It is an interesting thing about men. We all seem to be hard wired to notice a beautiful woman. Perhaps it was a genetic trait that was an advantage at one time in early man’s development. It seems that in some modern men the urge to stare is not something they can control. It’s like some higher cognitive level of understanding how this behaviour effects others has malfunctioned. I assure you that this would not be lost to him if the shoe was on the other foot. In fact it would strike me as more than mildly amusing to catch his reaction if you did the same thing to him. Childish behaviour I’ll concede but still amusing. My suggestion like Peredhil's would be to find yourself a better trained (ape) boyfriend.

The very best of wishes for you both.

Falcon,

How often I have done this? Brutalized by someone who knows every dark corner of my soul. I allowed him to befuddle me with self doubt and loathing. While she was alive my grandmother used to tell me it was the devil that did this to me. I don't know that she was wrong, but I do know that I still shave that face. I hope you learn from seeing these words on a page that what you seek can't happen until you learn to smile in the mirror and laugh at your human frailties. Those flaws are in all of us and if you can not forgive yourself, how will you ever forgive those flaws when you see them in someone you love?

Regel

The feeling of being on a Viking raiding ship or in medieval times is overwhelming. The message contained in the final line is still valid to this day.

So you decided to find a new home to post. I am very happy you chose to do so Yog. Welcome!! The poem is an interesting one. It deals with a subject all writers have faced, but it seems even an impass inspired you. Welcome home old friend.

Cared so much, his face runs wet

Pulse slowing now, his fire burns yet

Believed in things, he won't forget

Heart's in chains, his challenge met

Howls in pain, his anguish set

His life itself, he would forfeit

Sorrow grows, his eyes sunset

Passion, tears, blood and sweat.

Thank you all for the comments and as I reread this poem I can't help but agree that the rhyming scheme might have improved for all the reasons you suggested Wyvern. However people are flawed. That's what makes topics like this one difficult. We tend to rationalize and try to explain our actions when no logical explaination exists. The concept of a flawed personality is nothing new and that was what this poem reflects upon. I am glad it struck a chord.

All I have ever had are boys. However I am a traditionalist so names that sound good to me are Katherine, Elizabeth, and Carolynne.

The very best wishes for you Wyvern.

It was late February and winter still had us in it's icy grip.

I had been away on business for the weekend and although it had snowed and snowed a lot I had hope that the lure of PS-2 had not emptied my eighteen year old son's mind entirely. Surely the entrance of my driveway would be clear at the very least.

Nope. It was a wall of ice and snow with the gate closed. Muttering things best not repeated I parked on the street and started to dig out the entrance. I had strategically placed my vehicle in front just in case that dam snowplow came by.

Thirty minutes into this exercise I had managed to clear the majority of the entrance and half of the driveway when fatigue forced me to rest. It was quietly snowing that evening and as I watched my breath form clouds of vapours floating up through the snowflakes. Someone was approaching. I heard the clinking of metal dog tags.

Around the Blue Spruce came a small dog dragging her leash. "Holly!" I cried. She gave me quite the welcome, tail wagging and tongue lolling she came over to where I had crouched and licked my hands and face as she plopped on to her side an allowed me to pet her. I was smiling ear to ear and after a few minutes I watched as my next door neighbor Connie came walking around the spruce. She was smiling as well " She saw your van and got so excited I had to let her go to greet you." I smiled and said "And quite a nice greeting indeed." We had come along way in our relationship Holly and I. She was quietly called back to Connie and Holly gave me a final lick and dutifully returned to her master's call.

Seems like the little things in life are still what make it worth living for me. That neighbor's dog and my black and white cat sitting just inside the glass door waiting to say welcome home.

It's still winter up here in Canada so for all you tourists here are a few words of wisdom.

1. Don't eat the yellow snow.

2. Don't lick a metal fence post at minus 20 degrees.

3. Airport officials have no sense of humour so when they ask you "What's in the bag?" .... resist!

4. Tim Horton is not the Prime Minister of Canada.

5. We don't all have sled dogs. Snowmobiles replaced them years ago.

6. Not all Mounties have horses. It does make you wonder why they still call themselves Mounties.

7. Canadians might seem polite but they still think fighting in Hockey is normal.

8. Snowplows always come by after you have shovelled out the enterance of your driveway.

9. Smile, it will make your face look better.

Happy belated birthday wishes Dopey.

I wish I could rhyme, but I can barely reason,

What I do to words could be called high treason

So I'll leave it like this and stop bending your ear http://www.themightypen.net/public/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif

Hoping drinking legal is waiting for you next year.

It was a cold that morning in September. The summer nearly over and another school year was two weeks old. I was in my usual morning panic mode rushing to try and get to my new school (half a block away!) I was thirteen years old and almost my adult height and still coddled by my mother. "Eat!" she said. "Mom I am going to be late." I replied. I gobbled down my soft boiled eggs and dashed for the door.

Laying on the stoop in the weak September sunshine was Tutu my tabby cat. I almost stepped on him and he barely raised his head. I looked closer and saw his glassy eyes and a little drool coming out of his mouth. (The neighbours had been spraying pesticides and Tutu always chewed on long blades of glass.)

I was torn as to what I should do, then I heard the school bell ring. I gently lowered his head and stroked his fur. He was dying! Right there in my hands. I rushed off to school.

Later that day I found him stone cold and stiffening on my step. He hadn't moved from where I had left him. I was distraut and when my mother asked what was wrong I answered "Tutu is dead."

After a few moments my dad spoke up. "He was your cat, take care of it." The tone was flat and the instructions quite clear. I went to the shed got out a spade and dug a deep hole in the back corner of my yard. I gathered up my cat and buried him there all alone with tears rolling down my face. I was too embarassed to go back into the house so I stood there as the sun dropped off behind the row of houses across the back and my face dried. I finally went inside and directly into my room. I spoke to no one for the rest of the night and fell alseep. It was all of nine o'clock.

Did I stumble, did I impress?

I hope I made you smile.

Stories I told and promises I met,

Amused you for a while.

To those I hurt, by being too curt,

Forgive my ego and my pride.

Preoccuption was my damnation

With my conscience I can't abide.

The moment passed, for words that last

Now I ache to have it back

It's should have or even could have,

Regrets? I carry a sack.

I could have said "I'm sorry"

I would have erased some pain

I should have asked "Forgive me"

Shone some sunshine instead of rain.

So I'll say it here, and hope you draw near

Inside each of us is a treasured friend.

Give them a smile and linger a while,

For we may not pass this way again.

SweetCherrie,

The theme is a little like a moth attracted to a flame. What causes this destructive behaviour? Do we blame to the moth for finding the naked flame attractive or do we blame the flame for singeing the insect’s wings?

Beautifully written as always.

Ah... Hallmark employs many writers. Florists need the business as do chocolateers and even though I am a not a romantic, I still send my mom a dozen red and white carnations (just like my dad used to do every Valentine's Day).

There is no hard and fast rule that says it is strictly for lovers. There are many sweet people in this world that you can take notice of and spoil just a little bit. The commercialism annoys me as well because it seems to make people do things out of fear or reflex. Do it because you want to for someone special to you. It will makes someones day.

Sweet and clever! Well done to both of you. Speaking of 'Sweet and Clever" Wyvern you and Wrenwind should invent a chocolate bar (candy bar) and call it that!

Welcome home Rune. It has been too long. Great to see your name in here again.

I offer my character to your quest. Let me know if you need any additional information about Regel.