When is enough, enough?

When you start using the phrase, “The same old, same old.”

What was once exciting, “like forever,” now bores you.

When you tire of those things that use to give you pleasure and joy

The people, situations, taking care of the needs of others,

Societal cultural ignorance and the stupidity of the educated.

The way the new normal, regardless of stated change, really stays the same.

Enough is enough when disappointments tip the scale towards indifference.

When “the revolution will not be televised”

And when being jaded defines your personality.

****

Obama-Care

came about because
Obama cared.

***

Hope the person who
gave Trump the nuclear code
had dyslexia

**

The Karmic Scale of Life

If you own a chicken

and you provide
even the thinnest
layer of chicken wire
between that chicken
and the world
you have changed
the course of history
and gained yourself
great rewards on the 
karmic scale of life

If you have a child

and you provide
even the slightest
amount of affection
between that child
and the world
you have altered
that child's path
and earned yourself
brownie points on the
karmic scale of life

If you have a neighbor

and you provide
even the most basic
common courtesies
to shield that neighbor 
from the 
indifferences 
of this world
you have interrupted
the course of bigotry
and earned yourself
huge dividends on the
karmic scale of life

So go to Home Depot

and buy chicken wire
spoil your children 
with random hugs
and gumdrops
have coffee 
with your neighbors
and pay it 
all the way forward
extend your hand
change the course
of this world.

Denise Bulger (photo provided)

Denise Bulger is a poet living in Auburn, NY. Additional poetry from her will be presented in the forthcoming aaduna 2020 double issue coming at you in May.

* * *

The Space that lies within

devoid of movement, of human interaction, of the complexities of understanding

the albatross of myths and lies and truths beneath the surface

of words scrambled and letters in disarray to form an unspeakable language

of mistrust, hurt and abandonment conjoined by love, affection and matters of the heart

of do not come any closer but embrace my spirit; destroy and vilify what is most precious.

creeps towards an abyss of silence marked by a de/constructive penchant for erasure and not closure, inch by inch

celebrates the disinherited, the loss ones whose paths are strewn with unnecessary obstacles of deceit, who soldier on.

extols the virtue of compassion when no one is looking; of refusing to mock the most vulnerable when tainted by why and do not know and who fathom a life not well lived.

pushes positivity from the farthest regions of the mindset to the frontal lobes of encouragement 

minus the forgetfulness and forgiveness unearned.

paints hues and shades of color not yet invented in the labs of knowledge and discovery.

emboldens the missteps, failures, the you will amount to nothing, the put-downs, the rejection, the hurtfulness intended in a moment of unexplainable anger.

empowers the weakest to rise, stand tall, raise clenched fists, walk a thousand miles in shoes that are left over from pathways twisted by the vines of societal rubbish and dreams deferred.

is a powerful testament to perseverance, taking chances, overcoming, beating the odds, lady luck and all those spaces that hide and squeak, run and hide; play hopscotch, johnny on the pony, or simply tossing the ball of hope to an unforeseen adversary.

The space that lies within is 

rhyme and rhythm, salt ‘n’ pepper, hot and cold, this and that, here or there.

trust me

hate you

love me

slap me silly

pretend

tell the truth

white lies,

walk in my shoes

The space

within

may be false assumptions of invention, self-discovery, an acceptance of what is real or what is fake.

are things important and the fun of silliness; of touching hearts and holding hands with the inner child.

of what matters most, of life defining moments, of courage and what it means to be dedicated, of standing with me and not in front of me. 

The space within is yet to come.

bill berry, jr is bill berry is bill. To know more, seek and you shall find.

Peace out and thank you for celebrating National Poetry Month with aaduna. It is most appreciated even with the invariable ups and downs of posting a diversity of thoughts and themes. It was worth it.

More poetry? The 2020 aaduna double issue is coming in May.

aaduna - an online adventure with words and images - a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010.  Visit us at www.aaduna.org where we put measurable actions to our words.

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