The day I learned to say "no"
is a calendar date rapped in blue and white bows.
I now say "no"
of being of those who praise Peacocks, Eagles, and Flamingos
but who, in turn, denounce the crows--
to remaining of the sheepish throes 
by admiring those whose money doth continues to but whose empathy never grows. 
I said "no" to the newly recognized foes
who only argue to trade emotional blows.
T'was that day, my heart, to them, closed.
For, t'was devolution, not evolution, they fatally chose.  
My "just 30 more minutes" after clock-out time and overtime extra effort just now froze.
I now dictate to a boss clear and exact times for workflows.
No more "Sleep when you’re dead" slogans keep me on Mode Go,
especially when such efforts detract from family oaths.
I'd rather dwell homeless in tattered clothes 
than accept demeaning woes.
It's still a "no" to media shows
who obsessively show
bombs bursting and bullet mows--
knowing it's of no use for us to know
but show us anyway to keep us perpetually worried and slow.  
The bros also, sometimes, get the no's
if playoff time effects my mental health or romantic flows,  
when they invite me to, with them, watch the pros.
It's pressure I no longer feel is imposed
upon me to peer endlessly at a screen and scroll.
For, what's a phone's hue to a human's eye-to-eye greeting glow? 
Also, even though I despise venturing Earth solo,
I'll never reach a level so low
where I'd trade my peace for a plastic card-driven bimbo. 
My serenity is guarded by both a fatherly and sworn-in sentry, like Carl Winslow.
To say "no" 
when the time is right is to travel a jet stream current; make sure not to miss your sacred windows.

From the Soul,

📕“Learning To Say “No” is a piece from my upcoming published anthology, “Return from the Pale Trail: Gifts to Humanity We’ve Been Taught to Forget.” I’m ecstatic to share this wonderful piece of literature with the family. I hope you all enjoy. Until then, feel free to check out my other published materials.