Outstanding piece of writing Pinkdreams. I never walked into a Publix, since there not located in the NY tri-state area. Your memories and description of this store is unbelievable. The poem was done so well that as I began reading it, I knew and felt we were in the early to mid 70’s. The photo is also an extra bonus. As we get older, certain places and landmarks disappear. Our memories may fade a bit as well. At the same time, a certain item or smell may bring us back and reboot memories that were stuck somewhere in our brains decades ago. Nice work.

VoI- Thank you so much for understanding, and for the nice praise. It means a lot to me.

So good to hear from you. I think you did offer condolences back then, so thank you then and now.

Why did I think you lived in Texas? I’m so envious of those experiencing Fall and cold weather. 91 this afternoon in Phoenix. Stupid.

A powerful and thought provoking piece, dear Damian! Puppets on the string which move to every command of the puppeteer are easily to control…
To follow the drum of your heartbeat was a good idea! Your free rhyming flows easily and naturally!

Excellent, see .. this is what happens when free verse becomes you .. its all prose from here and no cons .. write on .. Neville

I HATE corporations and Politicians. Your poem strikes a nerve which I can easily understand and agree with.

This is really good cuz. I don’t like politics, but you write this so well.

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Mary. So glad you connected with the write my friend. Back at ya.. Appreciate you.

Damian

Fantastic work, my friend.

Two verses yet they tell the whole truth…. I don’t know how the human mind and spirit will survive and deal with all these negative rushes all around and everywhere… The problem that even when You are conscious and doing what You should do, the environment around You is saying another thing, and we both know how the surrounding affects us and now we need extra extra work! Yes I do appreciate old times. Great write my friend.

You know, the number of poetic rants I’ve written this year alone actually depresses me. It never seems to end. Spilling their lies and spewing their hate on the daily. Everyone I know is numb and fighting fatigue from it all. I’ll keep spilling truth if you do, my friend

These words look so pretty when pinned to the page like this .. and the message they make up, has that for real flavour to it .. its never easy tho to quit or get clean tho’ is it .. Bravo for sharing these insights .. just keep taking it one day at a time and write on .. Neville

I spotted the songs hidden within. Yeah, I’ve been lucky being I never participated in alcohol or drugs. They were everywhere but I declined and I’m glad for it.

You’re a courageous guy for being able to go through that and come out sane. (and a great writer). I’ve known people who couldn’t do it and spiraled into oblivion. Good on you, Damian.

Powerful work.

You’re a marvelous writer Damian. This is well written and quite honest. Great work!

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Mary. So glad you connected with the write my friend. It is a reward to get second chance, but it was important for me to understand why and how I became so addicted in the first place. I understand me better now, I’ve even slowly started to like myself a little. lol. That’s my true transformation my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

My best friend from middle school has been sober for over 17 years. I’m so proud of her.
It took her pound of flesh though. Completely different person when drunk. Mean, violent, and in all honesty sometimes sad.
No one wakes up in the morning and says I want to be an alcoholic. The struggle was real and I am so thankful she got sober.
Hang in there and tell the voices to shut the hell up. You got this. One day at a time.

Superb. You nailed it, my friend.

Hauntingly raw and beautifully concise — each line cuts deep with emotional clarity and poetic rhythm. Appreciate you, Damian.

I’ve always felt that if you’re still going…even limping…you’re not broken. You’re fractured. Those fractures heal with aches same as breaks, we both know that. You are fierce in your approach to truth, my friend

When it comes to the heart matters it is always difficult, very difficult to separate the feelings from the mind and make sense of everything… Unfortunately, sometimes we learn in the hard and painful way, and sometimes we need years to completely get over it and grow, the pain is real here, well written my friend.

When I read your musing, a quote of Friedrich Nietzsche was the first thought that came to my mind: “You must have chaos inside to give birth to a dancing star. “It’s exactly the chaos, the self doubts, the questions upon questions, the deep reflections at night which give birth to a dancing star of inspirations writings and deep thoughts. Great work, dear Damian!

This is a good piece of musing, Damian.
This is so true
“Timid people constantly read the room

While they study the human psyche “

Amazing piece Damian. Thank you for sharing 🙏

I think it all comes from being wounded too many times. I identify with this very much.

Wonderfully written Damian. Well said. Keep up the great poetry my friend.

Dude, I’m not timid at all and yet I still read a room! I am extremely observant of my surroundings. It’s a crazy world yaknow!
Your write is a crowd of personalities, interesting in each of their ways. The rhyme makes it flow really well. It’s carrying a beat all its own. Well versed Damian.

hello dearest Damian this is excellent I can relate to the searching and lonliness of not being satisfied with pat answers ❤️

It takes so many approaches and responses to survive these days. And not the least of which is temporary retreat and regroup. How do your pieces always seem so relevant to every moment? Prophet, I’m telling you. Keep assembling the pieces of the puzzle, my friend

There’s a real honesty here in the way you weave survival, wisdom, and self‑doubt into one puzzle feels deeply human. The closing admission about chaos being “demanding” hit especially true.🙏🏻🕊️

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Mary. So glad you connected with the write my friend. One of my favorite stanzas as well. Thank you for your continued support my friend, right back at ya. Appreciate you.

Damian

Reminds me of the matrix with the red and blue pill. Either face reality or live in fantasy.

Great ink friend.

Damian you formed this into a great poem of rumination. Very much loved the way this unfolded. So much wisdom in your words. Truly great poem my friend.

John

“useful idiots prefer brutality” killer fuckin line. excellent write.

So relatable… nicely done

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Mary. So glad you connected with the write my friend. I want music for this one. Currently I’m working on a song called, “Novocain.” The words are posted here on the site. I got the music laid out, got the growls recorded, trying to get a good vocal take on the verses and bridge. Which requires me to sing. lol. Glad to see you back! Appreciate you.

Damian

Brilliantly written socially critical text, dear Damien! You will definitely make a killer song out of it!

This is by far one of your best poems, Damian. Every stanza kicks ass. I like the Lennon reference and where you went with it. Great one!

Well this is strong! Like flexing on a page. It’s tight with its rhymes and meter, like a pro boxer hitting us with a thesaurus!
(damn, that’s a clever description, huh! LOL)
Powerful write, Damian. Golden gloves…

Thanks, Mary. Appreciate you.

Damian

Some people have no soul. The sad part is they thrive in their own filth. Great ink friend.

Enjoyed this poem immensely. From the rhymes, to the flow to the powerful message. Outstanding job Damian.

Thoroughly enjoyed from end to end .. No kiddin, write on brother .. Neville 😎👍

Fantastic work.

This is strong as straight vodka on the morning after the Bolshevik revolution in Russia. Very strong my friend. Truly a power tonic in this age of authoritarianism in America. You hit the bullseye. You are a master at writing song lyrics that rock my soul.

John

You know, there are times I wish you weren’t so nail on the head accurate. But these are dark days we’re entered into. Best to look them square in the eye. Brilliantly penned, my friend. Into the list it goes, as you say!