Piker Press — Weekly Journal of Arts and Literature
April 13, 2026
Richard D. Hartwell

Richard D. Hartwell

Rick Hartwell is a retired middle school teacher (remember the hormonally-challenged?) who just moved to northern Illinois with his wife of fifty years, Sally Ann (upon whom he is emotionally, physically, and spiritually dependent), one grown daughter, and ten cats! Like Blake, Emerson, Thoreau, and Merton, he believes that the instant contains eternity.

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About Richard D. Hartwell

Rick Hartwell is a retired middle school teacher (remember the hormonally-challenged?) who just moved to northern Illinois with his wife of fifty years, Sally Ann (upon whom he is emotionally, physically, and spiritually dependent), one grown daughter, and ten cats! Like Blake, Emerson, Thoreau, and Merton, he believes that the instant contains eternity.

Poem

16 articles ↑ top
  • Ablution

    "...earth spins and the eastern horizon dives under the rising sun..."

  • Women of the Church

    "...Expansive in their spirituality and earned merit..."

  • Cradling Death

    "...There is no good death..."

  • Are Humans the Pinnacle of Evolution?

    "...Elephants go through six sets of teeth in a lifetime..."

  • Sea Song

    "...to address us who once came out of the waters..."

  • Cheshire Cat Moon

    Haiku...

  • Eerie Snow Light

    "...Lawns frozen into a vast aprons..."

  • Asymmetry

    "Awakening to the call and response of geese..."

  • In Praise of Prayer Outdoors

    "...to observe the inexhaustible power of creation..."

  • Bliss

    "The warmth of welcome imbues the church..."

  • Knowing How to Tithe

    "...but they come at a cost, right?..."

  • Never a Birder Will I Be

    "...unlettered in those with feathers..."

  • Birch Tree Elder

    "...at least I think it’s dead..."

  • A Dying Year

    "...trees are nearly ghostlike now..."

  • Into the Woods

    "...follow them, like children chasing dreams..."

  • Spring Tree

    "...strings of frozen drops dangling on twigs..."

Essay

2 articles ↑ top
  • Cry Fowl

    Good thing they're delicious...

  • Let Us Pray

Prose

1 article ↑ top
  • Two Faces Has She

    "...hard fought from multitasking and justly earned..."