Why Now…???!!!

Some people may say it is Nature’s way to create balance.

Some people may think it is disharmony to give birth and then create vestiges of harmony.

Some people may say it brings out the best in people, and we know there is always an opposing force.

Why Now?

The genesis of any unexpected natural upheaval tends to be grounded in science and influenced by cultural beliefs, political sensibilities, human action or inaction, as well as ignorance to facts. And that lack of accepting what is true becomes aggravated by individuals who rather promulgate individual agendas to instill and foster misinformation to the larger society. So…

It is within this milieu of uncertainty, masks and gloves, rising number of deaths, separation from family and friends, anxiety and fear, as well as the consistent spread of an invisible and so far unstoppable infectious disease that society needs pathways to reflect on other issues that also define humanity…aspirations, understanding, hope and how we tackle unplanned pitfalls with tenacity and an emboldened spirit. 

Within this chaotic arena, aaduna will continue to present poetry each day in April to recognize and celebrate poets and their work during National Poetry Month.  

As a creative family, we trust everyone will remember that it is when each one of us stands strong  as “one” community, our strength and resolve will ultimately defeat adversity and despair.

We can still achieve and maintain one community concept by keeping six feet apart; staying at home; enjoying and having fun with family in our household; communicating with friends and extended family members via social media platforms, and maybe, just maybe by posting signs of encouragement on our lawns or putting up sheets hanging from windows that simply say “Thank You” to and for all those folks that keep us safe. Their service work provides our health care needs; gets food and medical supplies to stores and pharmacies, and maintains necessary governmental services that we should not take for granted. 

It is in that spirit of thankfulness and appreciation as a singular community, we welcome

Bobbie Dumas Panek!

Bobbie Panek [photo provided]

Ms. Panek resides in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York., USA.

Bobbie is a poet and writer who enjoys walks in nature with her dog. Check out her website for more info about her: www.bobbiedumaspanek.com <http://www.bobbiedumaspanek.com/

Now, relax and enjoy her two poetic contributions to aaduna’s National Poetry Month celebration and your sense of solace!

Young Girl with Chunky Ballerinas on Her Shirt

Kelsea stood still for the photo and did her best to smile. She wanted-no actually-she needed for people to think she was fine. No problems here.

If you don’t look beyond the three ballerinas on her blue shirt dancing free and loose,
if you don’t look beyond her bright orange pants,
if you don’t spend care about the number 803 on the white siding,
or spend time wondering about the large, black, rural mailbox on her front porch,
perhaps you could assume the cement steps she stands on represent a solid foundation.

                                                              However, if you look beneath her trying-hard-to smile, 

you will see her left shoulder pulled up high—protectively, ready to keep her ear from verbal 

attack, shielding her face from a hard blow, cushioning her body from more harm.

                                                                                                            Yes, if you quickly 

flipped the pages in this photo album and come upon this photo—you would most likely smile at 

the chunky ballerinas flying and think to yourself, now here’s a happy ten-year-old.

* * *

Word Search

in my late 60’s:   

            wOr dS

                                                            are                                                 hard                   

                                                                           

                        to         l o c a t e

in
                                                                                                                                                      my                                                                                                                                                       mind

I look in the direction ———————————of a corridor

            ———to a———filing——-room———


in a Wing                   

                                                                                                            in my word Library

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        then walk away

                                                                                                to loosen from/the grip/of tension

                        to let it gently float
                                                              into that narrow
                                                              stream of space

       

                                                                       
                                up   
to finally surface         and wave her hands        “Hey you lookin’ for me?”

* * * * *

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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