523. Put on the Mask

“Put on the mask!

It’s okay if it’s hard.

You’ll learn to love pain.

Death by suicide’s better,

Than a virus strain!

Put on the mask!

No one cares if you die,

Unless it is Covid,

Then, “It’s tragic!”, they cry.

Put on the mask!

It’s not a right to breathe.

If we want you to suffer…

You’ll go along…..Put it on!

Comply: “Yes, Sir!”

Put on the mask!

So death can not find you.”

(Though no one can offer such a guarantee)

Yet, with the states hands o’er your face,

It makes it hard to see,

All the people dying, internally.

K. Aldaya, 8/4/20

Picture: By Tai’s Captures on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/Lhb-zwQ-QGI

522. Yesterday

Hold fast to today,

For it flits and it flies,

Up on and away…

Into the vast skies,

Of yesterday.

Where all of us go,

When we leave and grieve,

In the long ago,

As writer’s weave,

And stories sew.

K. Aldaya, 8/3/20

Picture: By Dmitry Ratushny on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/O33IVNPb0RI

521. Soar

I am not your victim.

I won’t run and hide.

I will stand up for the truth.

I’m on my own side!

I have had a hard life,

So you look down upon me,

But I’m not the rock under your shoe.

I’m the bird, flying high and free!

You may try to shoot me down,

To feel better about your place….

Planted firm upon the heavy Earth;

Yet, this is not the case.

Shooting me down won’t help you up.

Won’t loose one’s feet from the ground.

You want to know how to fly?

Make sure no one’s around…

To hold you down…to clip your wings…

To take the length and breadth,

Of the spirit which lies inside of you,

Full of hope and depth.

I am not your victim,

I won’t run and hide.

Shoot me down. I’ll get back up,…

For I’m on my own side.

K. Aldaya, 8/2/20

Picture: By Ryan Moreno on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/IcAtXrAZx8E

520. We Are One

Don’t tell us we are many,

For we know, we are one.

Like a colony, we work together,

To do what needs be done.

The distinction of each part,

Matters not upon the whole.

All that matters is that we agree:

Protection is the goal.

We build our walls together,

Or together we will fall.

All is for the one,

And one is for us all.

Arm in arm we stand,

Upon the battlefield,

Stronger in our defense,

With each interlocking shield.

Don’t try and divide our ranks.

Aim your bows and shoot!

For we know we’re stronger as one;

And are firm and resolute.

For each part is important,

And does what needs be done.

So, don’t tell us we are many,…

For we know, We are One!

K. Aldaya, 7/7/20

Picture: From “300“; https://builtbytophat.com/300-can-teach-crisis-communications/

519. Midnight

photo-1532798369041-b33eb576ef16

What I used to fear, I now crave.

There is no escape, but for the grave.

The bitterness,…the human plight.

I’m as tired as sleepless night.

I cannot leave,…the night’s not o’er.

I am the moon, and the Earth, the floor.

I hover on high, watch and wait,

‘Til the day time seals my fate.

I will return to dust and light;

Yet until then, I must do what’s right.

I’ve loved too much to spurn my fate.

Sing a lullaby,… it’s getting late.

Go to sleep. There’s not to fear.

And when you wake, please shed no tear.

Within the light, I am still here.

K. Aldaya, 6/17/20

Picture: By Nick Owuor on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/wDifg5xc9Z4