615. Improvidentdom

A scanning light washed over me,

And once it was over I could see,

A luminous map of the world,

With unexpected planning unfurled…

Upon my hands, which sank through the skin,

And I walked ‘way bitter as sin,

For I did not consent to this breach,

Of body…nor of the states reach.

I heard a voice speak distantly,

Which, suddenly, I could clearly see,

As if a station in my head,

Tuned into a TV show instead.

I could not turn it off or escape,

From the perpetual mind-rape.

I observed the inhumanity,

Of those I could not save indefinitely.

There is no immortality,

That’s worth living here eternally.

Machines are cold and lacking things,

Which can not grant to you hope, nor wings.

You can’t rely on metal and code,

To save your soul or change the mode,

Of transience, and hold souls ransom…

For time and space are not ad infinitum;

They have an end, as all things do.

All things have their time to move on through,

Souls in their day nourish the soil,

For the souls of tomorrow to cultivate and toil…

And grow.

K. Aldaya, 5/2/23

Picture: By Strvnge Films on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/Pr2CZyi-pzE

601. New Year, Same Age

A new year has dawned,

O’er the Kingdom of Man,

In this age of great peril,

Where one does what one can,

To ward off evil,

And fortify the walls,

Of Truth, Light, and what is Right,

Against bespoken calls,

For dark to descend,

And snuff out divine Light,

From the spirits of all men,

And consume them in night.

Yet, no matter what,

Night will not ever win,

For Light, Goodness, and the Truth,

Always find a way in…

And radiate.

K. Aldaya, 1/5/23

Picture: By Ben O’Bro on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/wpU4veNGnHg

565. Arcane

I waited lifetimes for men to do what is right,

To seek truth, no matter how hard,

And light-up the ageless night,…

In search of each shard,

Of forgotten plight.

Yet, there’s no use in waiting for hope or justice,

When men seek what’s easy, not just,…

And sleep soundly at night, feckless,

As shadows are thrust,

In each orifice.

I waited lifetimes for no more than fantasy;

For when I look into the black,

It gazes back into me,

While those who won’t see,

Endlessly attack,…

And I grin, knowingly.

K. Aldaya, 11/17/21

Picture:

From Sucker Punch; https://gifs.alphacoders.com/gifs/view/181159

2. From Sucker Punch; https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/sucker-punch/images/26330438/title/babydoll-photo/4

562. How Many Will Be Here Tomorrow?

As the world decays beneath us,

I wonder sorrowfully,

How many will be here tomorrow?

And will one of them be me?

The ground has opened wide,

Threatening to swallow us all,

As devil’s in humans’ clothes,

Neighborly push, to help us fall.

I have not prayed for many years,

And it may just be absurd,

But I find myself wanting to,

Even if it won’t be heard.

I fear that the demons are real,

And all the good angels have gone.

Now all we have is one another,

And little ground to stand upon.

For I am but a mortal child,

Yet, I wonder anyway,

How many will be here tomorrow?

…I better write this today.

K. Aldaya, 9/13/21

Picture 1: By Fakurian Design on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/1r0TPtmhEZA

Picture 2: By National Cancer Institute on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/701-FJcjLAQ

Picture 3: From ABC News: Michael Franchi; https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-09/mining-camp-designers-plan-covid-19-quarantine-hub-in-wa/100119364

Picture 4: From CNN (VCG via Getty Images); https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/covid-china-quarantine-camp-hebei-b1790210.html

Picture 5: Posted by Jim Davidson on Twitter; https://twitter.com/planetaryjim/status/1298645415831777280

551. I’m Not Sure Anymore

I remember when I was a child,

They used to go to schools and tell us.

That drugs are bad, and not to do them;

And now they push them upon us,

Like bullies on the playground.

I can remember when we were told,

“Don’t give in to social peer pressure”.

That you shouldn’t do something by force,

Unless you were completely sure,

It was your best choice to make.

I remember when Smokey the Bear,

Told us to prevent fires and care;

Now people on the media scream,

“Burn down the system everywhere!”,

As buildings burn on our screens.

I remember when celebrities,

Said bullies and suicide were bad,

And were meant to be fought out against.

Now locking people up’s the fad;

And silence lets it happen.

I remember when there were standards,

Of how to treat your fellow humans.

Now everyone believes that their fears,

Excuse them from basic demands,

Of their own humanity.

I remember when I was a child,

Even though I was not treated right,

I believed in human potential,…

For us to do what’s good and right…

Yet, now I’m not sure anymore.

Are you?

K. Aldaya, 7/26/21

Picture: By Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/IEVa-W0kojU