We’re designed by definitions
and, by definition, ill designed.
We call ourselves a Society,
a sect of superiors,
(selfish, salivating and sexed up)
a body of brutish beings,
complex communities
searching for beauties
in platitudes, pondering Paradise
and placing Plato as a pet name for puppies,
naval gazing into our own Nirvana
while we paint our pads
and position our acquisitions
as if arranging our own Arcadia.
We sleep in the Shangri-la,
the hotel, not the ideal
while dreaming of that remote Utopia
with heads hanging humble
on thousand dollar pillows.
We are soldiers in line up
(overly eager and trigger happy)
waiting for the invite to heaven
where the righteous can be redeemed
in the hope of rising again
(in the hope of being forgiven for being fucking fools)
as if this was all just a waiting game,
a sojourn in a waiting room called life,
a select room where society decides
who can stay and who we should slay.
Nirvana was just a band on the radio
and Paradise is still just a paved up lot to park in.
All Words and Photographs by Damien B. Donnelly
Plato the Puppy was seen in on the streets of Antwerp, Belgium.
Damien B. Donnelly 
I had to read this poem aloud, ripping into the full power of its sound and the feel of the words in my mouth.
So happy to hear that Rachel, I’ll listen carefully to see if I can hear you across the waters. Best wishes Dami
Not only cute, but also for sale! I’d say not cute and not parting with and cash for plato (I’m not a fan of chihuahuas or gold). Great poem. I was protesting being lumped into the ‘we’ but I guess everytime I use my phone or computer, switch on a light, put fuel in my car, and exchange money for goods and services, I’m complicit in all the ugliness We have created.
There is also beauty out there that we are also thankfully complicit in😊
Thanks for balancing the despair 💚
Incredible. But I do hope you have joy too in the midst of all that. 🙂
Oh yes, there is joy, sometimes it’s just looking at the coin from the other side 😄😄