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.

((Australian Quarantine Camp))

((Chinese Quarantine Camp))

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

534. The Devil’s in the Details (Uncensored)

They told him that he was insane,

When life had beaten him down,

And instead of offering love and support,

They gave him drugs in which to drown.

They told him to stay locked away,

“To protect the most innocent”;

While the suicidal were sacrificed,

Upon their altar of consent.

They told her the baby should die,

When she feared being a mother.

Instead of helping her be one,

They taught her how to smother.

They told her she was only worth,

The money she could earn.

There was no worth in “family” work.

A home was meant to burn.

They told her she could have it all,

When there is only so much time,

So instead of having everything.

Everything was out of time.

They told him he was guilty,

For the crimes of a skin color.

Instead of individual guilt,

All are guilty for another.

They told him he was racisms’ victim.

That everyone else held him back.

So instead of giving him a hand to stand,

They stood upon his back.

They say they care for nature,

While they destroy it all too well,

And conspire against human life,

Forgetting humans are of nature as well.

They told him he was toxic,

For simply being born a man.

Instead of accepting nature as it is,

They told him he’d be better as a tran.

They told her sex is a construct,

Of an oppressive system,

While oppressing her with testosterone,

Was part of their stratagem.

They told him to speak his mind,

That the country was still free.

Instead they censored and cancelled him,

‘Til he promised (on one knee) to never again disagree.

They do not care about you,

But there are those out there who care,

They just aren’t for big government,

For power does not care.

Power seeks more power,

Be it by fear, or by deceit.

If they wanted to build where you stand,

You’d end up in concrete.

They’ll tell you they are in the right,

When all they do is wrong.

If one says one thing and does another,

You can bet they’re leading you along….

Into the depths of hell.

K. Aldaya, 04/19/21

Picture 1: By: Murilo Gomes on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/EYdFerWxoQY

Picture 2: By: Tech Nick on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/5YuVGW2deMw