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Awaiting Adulation

We all spend our lives awaiting adulations’ late arrival.
We’re convinced that’s all we need for our emotional survival.
So, we count up every “Like” and then we add them to each “Follow”.
Disappointment is a bitter pill that most of us can’t swallow.
We sit lost and hopeless waiting for our comments to go viral
Which begins a tortured journey down the dreaded downward spiral.
It’s not likely but there is a chance our count could be historic
Which would bring a rush and make us momentarily euphoric.
We’d become addicted to that high and then need to get higher.
The attention that we get becomes our dopamine supplier
Which begins another spiral that is equally destructive.
As the high gets smaller from each hit, the need gets more seductive.
It’s a game with many losers and one strangely with no winners
Since the adulation we receive just comes from other sinners.
Every post we make is made to find some stranger it amazes.
We’ve been writing Hymns about ourselves and singing our own praises
Versus writing Hymns about Him and then singing of His glory
Since what God did to redeem us is the most amazing story.
By believing and confessing we get undeserved salvation
Which brings everlasting peace unlike mere human adulation.

.

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The World’s a Stage

The world’s a stage. We’re merely players,
Not ourselves, we’re all portrayers
Of a role we’ve each selected,
One we think we have perfected.

We’ve ignored the play’s Creator,
Leaving Him a mere spectator.
It’s His script we should be using,
Not directions of our choosing.

He’s the One who wrote this drama,
And He wants to save us from a
Common life He knows ends bleakly.
He wrote each one’s part uniquely.

Some roles seem inconsequential,
But to Him, each one’s essential.
Play your part inside His story
For your good and for His glory.

He made clear what He’s intending
So, the faithful know their ending.
As the final curtain raises
He will shower them with praises.

.

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Warren Bonham is a private equity investor who lives in Southlake, Texas 

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The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary.


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6 Responses

  1. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Warren, these are two very well written poems that focuses on that to which we should pay attention and leave the rest of the world behind. Your rhyming words were inspired particularly the pair, “drama” and “from a…” Many of us fall victim to the “highs” and consequent “dopamine” that is produced from the “adulation” of the fickle crowd.

    Reply
  2. Russel Winick

    Warren, I enjoyed both of these poems, especially the first couplet and the sudden pivot 3/4 of the way through Awaiting Adulation. Nice work.

    Reply
  3. Norma Pain

    I very much enjoyed these two poems Warren. I loved the perfect rhyme and meter which read so easily that we can concentrate on the message which comes through loud and clear. Thank you for a great morning read.

    Reply
  4. Cheryl Corey

    Your poem on human adulation rings true, Warren. Social media is a seductive, dopamine supplier which continues to prove destructive for young people in particular.

    Reply
    • Warren Bonham

      Thank you all for the supportive comments. I wanted to assure everyone that no intelligence (artificial or otherwise) was used in the creation of these poems. Someday, I’ll figure out how to use Chat GPT

      Reply
  5. Cynthia Erlandson

    I found “Awaiting Adulation” to be particularly delightful.

    Reply

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