Twenty-oh-six was a good year for Trump--
A fifth child, some love affairs.
We could go into greater detail
But maybe that would be splitting hairs.

Did we say that the little flings
Both took place during his marriage?
I guess certain institutions
Are fair game to flout or disparage.

Two ladies--a ***** star
And an ex-******* bunny--have stories,
Both of which put them in
Slightly different categories.

Both ladies received hush money
During the presidential campaign
In different ways, but nonetheless,
Silence is sometimes hard to maintain.

Despite substantial payoffs, Trump
Denies the affairs even occurred.
But people wonder how many more
Times he's said, "Mum's the word."

How the president wants to define
His marriage--we must reiterate--
Is up to him. Hopefully it's
Appropriate for a chief of state.

We also think that a president
Should be sincere in matters political
And not live a double standard
And act in a manner that's hypocritical.

For white evangelicals
Trump's behavior undermines
Nothing, for didn't Solomon
Have three hundred concubines?

-by Bob B (2-17-18)

Although the Wrangler has left the ranch,
Within our hearts he'll be enshrined,
For now he's gone to the last roundup,
Leaving the rest of us behind.

The sky was the Wrangler's favorite rooftop;
Walls couldn't pen him in.
To him the slow destruction of nature's
Wonders was a cardinal sin.

The saddle was his poetry--
His homage to life, a living ode.
When not on his horse, you'd see him riding
His two-wheeled "horse" on the open road.

An expert storyteller he was.
How he delighted us with his tales!
His theory: a little embellishment
Never hurts when all else fails.

And write! How the Wrangler could write--
Each of his letters a work of art,
A masterpiece of expression, replete
With wit and charm that flowed from his heart.

Fishing, hunting, philosophizing,
Photography, and art to boot:
His varied interests, but interest in YOU
Was maybe his greatest attribute.

Sometimes when his patience dwindled,
He could lose it, and who could blame him.
His wife, Barrie, had to try
To tug on his reins to try to tame him.

A legend in his time, he was--
A striking presence wherever he went.
And spending money to help other
People--to him--was money well spent.

Although to the last roundup he's gone,
The Wrangler's lasting imprint survives.
As we say our good-byes, remember
How he enriched all of our lives.

-by Bob B (8-3-20)

(Can be sung to the tune of "My Country, 'Tis of Thee")

This country once was grand.
It's hard to understand
What has gone wrong.
Without change, rest assured,
Rights that were once secured
Will all become obscured.
Hear this sad song!

Our country nationwide
Was once more unified;
Now it is split.
Our leader--not so smart--
Who lacks a caring heart
Is tearing us apart,
Yes, bit by bit.

When presidents defy
Rule of law, tell me why
People don't act.
Obstructing justice should
Prove they're up to no good.
Let this be understood:
They must be sacked.

When leaders lie we must
Find others whom we trust
To tell the truth.
Climate change ought to be
A huge priority,
If not for you and me,
Then for our youth.

If people are too dense
And have no commonsense
Can we survive?
May eyes be opened so
More people here can know
What we must do to grow.
Let wisdom thrive!

-by Bob B (6-12-19)

I've been playing dodgeball with COVID,
And up to this point, I have succeeded
In dodging the many ***** tossed my way.
I haven't let warnings go unheeded.

True, it's been a wild game,
And all the ***** sing a medley
Of different tunes; some are muted,
Some are stronger, and some are deadly.

As they all go whizzing by,
I twist, I turn, I shelter in place.
Protecting myself as much as I can,
I'm finding it hard to keep up the pace.

It's an equal opportunity
Virus, for COVID doesn't care
Whom it hits. Whoever gets
In the virus's way had better beware.

Extra precautions help us immensely.
Our chances are better that we won't fall
If perchance we're caught off guard
And suddenly get hit by the ball.

Some folks are pelted ever so slightly,
And as each one of them disappears
From the circle of COVID escapees,
Other folks are knocked on their rears.

The ***** keep flying. The game gets even
More befuddling, more demanding.
It makes one wonder if any of us
Can win the round and be left standing.

When this game's over--if ever it is--
Will a new one have its say--
A brand new virus, much more virulent--
A new game we'll be forced to play?

-by Bob B (12-29-22)

New Year's resolutions
Normally aren't worth making,
Since they tend to be
Something we're usually breaking.

I've decided Whoa!
To self-deprivation
And unnecessary
Guilt and indignation.

My resolution this year
Is to daily devour
As many sweets as possible.
(Preferably on the hour.)

The ideal situation
Would be for me to sate
My appetite for confections
Without gaining weight.

All those pastries and donuts
Might not be so cheap.
But THIS is a resolution
That shouldn't be hard to keep.

- by Bob B (1-1-17)

Praise to the leakers who take a risk
To rout out corruption, wrongdoings, and lies.
We have the right to know the truth.
A thousand thanks for opening our eyes.

Praise to the investigative press--
Brave, ubiquitous, and alert.
Exposing deceit and hypocrisy means
Sometimes having to dig up dirt.

Praise to the heroes who fight for our rights,
Exposing themselves to insults and scorn.
We take for granted most of our freedoms,
The loss of which one day we could mourn.

Praise to all the defenders of truth.
Don’t be bullied into submission.
Your vigilance will guide us when
Integrity suffers from malnutrition.

-by Bob B (8-9-17)

Last night I saw my mom and dad.
We had a lovely chat.
Laughing, joking, carrying on...
We’re always good at that.
 
Dad, without his oxygen tank,
Had no trouble walking.
He spoke of books and politics
And had no trouble talking.
 
Mom dashed about her kitchen
Busily preparing
Some delectable treat to serve.
(I even heard her swearing.)
 
Such visits happen now and then.
Sometimes it even seems
As though they’re real and not occurring
ONLY in my DREAMS.
 
Why Mom and Dad are in a dream,
I don’t have a clue.
But I love to see them; it's
The best that I can do.
 
It’s hard to believe that eighteen years
Ago they passed away.
It’s strange; it almost seems as though
It happened yesterday.
 
Healthy, strong, invincible,
Robust, and never sad,
Philosophizing, loving, caring—
That’s how I see Dad.
 
No less loving, but more pensive
And never brash or gushy,
Mom expresses love through actions.
She’s kind, but never mushy.
 
These dreamy reunions I will cherish
Until my memory fades;
Or until life decides
It's time to pull the shades.

- by Bob B

Ari was not different to me.
Kids said, "He is Jewish." So?
I thought to myself. What does that mean?
That was long, long ago.

To me he was a classmate, a kid,
A friend, a neighbor, someone who
Played just like the other kids.
What did it matter if he was a Jew?

That was back when people had "cooties."
Do people have cooties anymore?
If people want to dislike others,
They'll come up with reasons galore:

Different religion, different race,
****** orientation, gender,
The way we talk, or whether we
Are overweight or overly slender.

People will find someone to fear,
Someone to shun, someone to tease,
Someone to scorn, someone to laugh at
And made to feel ill at ease.

We humans! What a bunch
Of silly, crazy, mixed-up fools--
Intolerant, insecure,
Defensive, uptight, as stubborn as mules!

From generation to generation
The cycle continues as parents tell
Their kids whom to hate and like.
Ah, yes, they teach their children well.

Praise to the parents with open minds
Who teach their kids to love, not hate.
That is the key to break the cycle
Of hatred that we perpetuate.

Loving parents guide their children
In loving ways. Such parents show them
The key to understanding others:
To open up and get to know them.

- by Bob B (12-18-16)

What are you trying to hide, Mr. T?
What do you fear we will find
In your secret tax returns?
Let's see…. What springs to mind?

Are there more illegal dealings
With Cuba? Maybe so.
Or maybe more deals with Russia
Than we want to know?

Regarding charitable causes, perhaps
You don't want us to see
That you are not as charitable
As you let on to be?

Or maybe you don't want us to know--
And thus prefer to stall--
That while we pay our federal taxes,
You pay none at all?

You talk of reasons for nondisclosure;
The reasons are falling apart.
You smugly say that not paying taxes
Shows that you are smart.

Could there be something going on
That's even creepier yet?
When the topic comes up you seem
To break out in a sweat.

You expect transparency
From others. Isn't that true?
But heaven forbid if others expect
Transparency from you!

(9-30-16) By Bob B

Prancing along a jungle path,
A monkey found a curious box.
Not to investigate the contraption
Would be for him unorthodox.

A number of small holes had been drilled
Into the side of the box, so he
Could see inside to satisfy
His boundless curiosity.

The box contained a tempting nut.
If he could only reach inside
And pull it out! How marvelous!
If not, he'd be dissatisfied.

He put his tiny, searching hand
Through a small hole, grabbed the nut,
And tried to pull it through the hole.
The nut was way too big. "What?"

The monkey exclaimed. "It won't fit!"
What was the poor guy to do?
He sat with his hand in the hole for hours,
Frantically trying to pull the nut through.

Soon a trapper came strolling by
And found the monkey next to the trap.
He tossed the monkey--along with some others--
Into a bag and tightened a strap.

Off he went with his catch for the day,
Happy that he had taken great pains
To make good traps so he could supply
The restaurateur with monkey brains.

How much like the monkey are we!
We grasp onto possessions, views,
Our pride, our ego, our sense of self…
And though we suffer, we refuse

To let things go--to gently release
That which ultimately constrains us,
Closes our minds, hardens our hearts,
Blinds our eyes, or firmly enchains us.

-by Bob B (11-25-17)

Everything is a lesson
Whether we like it or not.
Everything has a meaning.
Everything’s food for thought:
 
Unfortunate times, our triumphs,
Days both happy and sad,
People who warm our hearts,
People who drive us mad,
 
Illnesses and wellness,
Incidents that we regret,
Things we’ll remember forever,
And things we would like to forget.
 
Life makes more sense when
We open our eyes and our minds.
It’s like a light bulb going on,
Or like someone opening the blinds.
 
When we see interconnectedness—
When everything’s not about US—
Causes and conditions
Show us there’s always a THUS.
 
BOTH seeing and knowing
Guide us in understanding
The world around us; however,
The truth is also demanding.
 
You wonder: Does all of this knowing
Provide us with much consolation
When we feel so helpless
In effecting a transformation?
 
Some things seem so simple,
And yet they’re complicated.
It turns out the golden rule
Is far too underrated.
 
Too many people can’t see
The forest for the trees.
They claim to offer assurance,
But end up causing unease.
 
Sometimes the lessons we learn
Are hard to reconcile—
Especially when fanatics’
Tactics are cruel and vile.
 
Blinded by ideologies,
They lack genuine caring;
Their means for achieving their goals
Are violent and overbearing.
 
Is it that they do not see?
Or is it that they do not care?
Lying to themselves prevents them
From becoming truly aware.
 
It’s sad for the many victims
Whose lives are miserably affected
By those ideological thugs
Whose goals are misdirected.
 
It’s how we USE what we’ve learned
To help us make changes—to act—
To help us make smart decisions,
Using our wisdom and tact.
 
Learning from all of life’s lessons,
Combined with introspection
Or getting in touch with ourselves,
Is a step in the right direction.
 
Just always keep in mind
That whether we like it or not,
Everything has a meaning;
Everything’s food for thought.

- by Bob B

Jimmy Lee loved Gertie
From the bottom of his heart.
He swore on stacks of Bibles
That they would never part.
She was his dearest love
In his whole durn life.
If things were very different,
She would be his wife.
 
He would take her everywhere
He could. Ain’t that sweet?
He’d take her to the movies,
Then later out to eat.
He loved to show her off
When going to the store.
They had the perfect life.
Who could ask for more?
 
When Jimmy Lee went driving,
He’d take her for a ride.
It made him feel so good
To have her by his side.
And, oh, how he smiled
When he took her to church!
He knew his Gertie wouldn’t
Leave him in the lurch.
 
She wasn’t much for housework
Or taking care of chores.
She wouldn’t wash the windows;
Nor would she sweep the floors.
Jimmy, he did everything;
He pampered his ol’ girl.
But after all, his Gertie
Was his shining pearl.
 
Gertie always loved--
And it really wasn’t strange—
To spend a lot of time
At the firing range.
To Jimmy Lee that was
The epitome of fun.
Oh! By the way:
Gertie was his gun.

- by Bob B

How often greed dictates policy
And governs the base and loathsome actions
Of lawmakers making decisions
While fooling the public with clever distractions!

How greed greases the giant wheel
That turns--constantly in motion--
While powers that guide the mechanism
Boldly expect unhindered devotion!

How often greed in the guise of good
Fills the pockets to overflowing
Of crafty manipulators while
The poor struggle, never knowing!

How greed fills the callous hearts
Of those who fail to see the disparity
Between their growing accounts and their
Expenditures that they call "charity"!

How often greed displaces well-
Intentioned efforts to help humanity
In those whose lack of compassion is nurtured
By boundless egoistical vanity!

Watch them bow to the god of greed;
Watch them sing and dance on his altar,
Hoping that he will strengthen their
Resolve should they ever falter.

-by Bob B (7-19-17)

Longing is a part of human nature.
Seeking worlds beyond a fixed star
Pushes us to seek adventures--
Helps us discover who we are.
Stumbling on a golden path
Might change your heart and your demeanor;
Discontent could spur you on
To seek a place where the grass is greener.

But if you could see through Dorothy's eyes--
See the world with awe and wonder--
You could fly above the clouds
And see the rainbow from over and under.
Though your journeys take you far,
Remember no matter how far you roam,
Deep inside your heart for certain
You'll know there is no place like home.

When dark clouds and stormy times
Take you to strange and distant places,
Sometimes you ignore the signs
And misread the looks on people's faces.
Love and friendship are all around us.
The path to realization wends
Through encounters that show us that we
Must love ourselves to love our friends.

So if you could see through Dorothy's eyes--
See the world with awe and wonder--
You could fly above the clouds
And see the rainbow from over and under.
Though your journeys take you far,
Remember no matter how far you roam,
Deep inside your heart for certain
You'll know there is no place like home.

- by Bob B

Two men recently died from a clash
On a Portland light-rail train.
The two men lost their precious lives
For reasons so insane.

Someone, angry, confused, and deranged,
Entered the car and began
Assaulting two women verbally.
Obviously, the man

Was more than just a pesky nuisance,
For three passengers tried
To intervene because the rantings
And ravings wouldn't subside.

The white supremacist, Islamophobic
Madman yelled in a fury
That Muslims should die. The line between
Safety and danger was blurry.

The three heroes became the target
Of the reprobate.
He stabbed all three, but two of them died:
Victims of cruel hate.

One man was a former vet
And loving father of four;
The other a recent college grad,
Gone forevermore.

Even though we know the answer
We still ask ourselves why
It is that good Samaritans
Sometimes have to die.

- by Bob B (5-31-17)

The voice of money keeps growing louder,
Which gives the rich a cause to rejoice.
In large amounts, money talks:
The more you have, the louder your voice.
 
The louder the voice, the greater the power—
Power to flaunt or throw around,
And power to affect and to buy elections,
Which seems unethical and highly unsound.
 
With more power comes more control—
More arrangements with the upper crust
To exert influence into putting through laws
With no concern if they’re fair or just.
 
We’ve seen that with money comes freedom of speech;
Your freedom increases with the amount you possess.
It’s a horrible thing for a democracy
When money is used to stifle and suppress.
 
They say that money can’t buy love,
But when you’ve got millions, who really needs it?
The ego becomes much more important;
Watch it grow as money feeds it.
 
There are other things that money can’t buy:
It can’t buy compassion or a caring heart.
Our nation thrives on ideas and values,
But money plays the largest part.
 
Songs say love makes the world go round;
It’s money that makes it go round in reality.
Whatever fails to make a profit
Is useless for its lack of practicality.

- by Bob B

Insensitivity reigns supreme
At the White House. No, this isn't a dream.
You'd think that one would have more sense.
I guess we can't expect that from Pence.

Two days after eleven died
At a synagogue, shot inside
By an angry extremist--completely hate filled--
Who stated that ALL Jews should be killed,

The vice president, with little regard
For others' beliefs--why's that so hard?--
Introduced a "rabbi" whose views
Aren't respected by practicing Jews

At Lena Epstein's election campaign
In Michigan. Completely insane!
Is Pence defiant, or is he naïve?
Does he not care what others believe?

"Rabbi" Loren has been involved
With Jews for Jesus. They are resolved
To carry out their major ambition:
Converting Jews. Yes, that's their mission.

Many are outraged by the lack
Of sensitivity. Doesn't it smack
Of disrespect, brashness, and cheek--
A real kick in the pants, so to speak?

Do not tell me that reasons abound
Why there were no other rabbis around--
Rabbis whose messages wouldn't collide
With many beliefs of the people who died.

"Rabbi" Loren was there to address
The carnage in Pittsburgh, but also to bless
Republicans wanting a victory nod
From their pro-Republican God.

-by Bob B (10-30-18)

Write it down. Make a note.
Add it to your list.
Organize your facts so that
There's nothing you have missed.

Keep track of activities.
Organize your files.
Sift through clutter endlessly.
Maneuver 'round the piles.

Listen to the constant chatter
Occurring in your mind.
Update, upgrade, upload, and upscale
Before you get behind.

Connect all dots, look for answers--
Leave no stone unturned.
If the stress builds up then try
Acting unconcerned.

Be sure to take in everything;
Do not miss a sight.
You notice that your grasp is weakening?
Hold on with all your might.

Buy the latest, smartest, greatest--
Maybe pull some strings….
But wait! Surely life must offer
More than countless things.

Are YOU living or BEING lived?
Only you can know.
Slow down. Breathe. Smile. Don't be
Tossed to and fro.

Why be a slave to busyness
And ultimately curtail
Your freedom by condemning yourself
To your own private jail?

Why pore over volumes of words
For clues that will misguide you
Instead of looking within to see
That truth lies deep inside you?

Why seek answers in so many places
Hour after hour
When life's profound meaning can be
Reflected in a flower?

- by Bob B

Another mass shooting has
Caused the deaths of twenty-six people.
This time the atrocity
Occurred under a church's steeple--

Not in a major city, but
In a small Texan community,
Showing that death from firearms here
Is an equal opportunity.

If four or more people shot
Or killed at a certain time and place
Defines mass shootings, then here they are
Happening at an alarming pace.

Three hundred seven mass shootings
Have taken place so far this year,
According to one report.
One thing's definitely clear:

Gun violence is out of control.
Acknowledging that is how one starts
To deal with a scary situation
That people think is off the charts.

When some want to discuss the matter,
There goes an altercation
As others accuse them of trying to
Politicize a situation--

Politicize a tragedy.
But frankly, when all is said and done,
Like it or not, the issue of gun
Violence IS a political one!

It would help if our leadership
Would deal with the problem directly and not
Placate donors and lobbyists
Whose self-serving baloney they've bought.

All countries have mental health
Problems; we’re not the only ones,
Says the president. So the problem
Is mental illness and NOT guns.

In all countries, mental health
Issues exist. No disputing.
But other countries do not have
The problem of shooting after shooting.

Thoughts and prayers for all affected
Certainly have a role to play.
But the bigger issue is something
That can't be simply prayed away.

-by Bob B (11-6-17)

Picnics, parties, marches, laughter,
Potato salad, apple pie…
Friends and families united
And fireworks lit up the nighttime sky.

Some, however, couldn't partake--
Some with horrific stories to tell,
Who, if they could see the fireworks,
Had to watch them from a cell.

Parents separated from children
Here seeking refuge learned
How the rules of immigration
Can be so quickly overturned.

Some are forced to be deported
To Mexico and beyond--
Forced to leave their kids behind,
Denied due process, denied even bond.

The president and his admin team--
These our heroes! These our champs!--
Propose a plan to reunify
Families in internment camps!

Refuge seekers torn apart
Learned not in a pretty way
How people in America
Honor Independence Day.

If Lady Liberty were able,
She’d lay down her tablet and flame
And raise up her hands in order
To hide her tearful face in shame.  

-by Bob B (7-5-18)

At times there are not two sides to a story
When there's a "side" that hoodwinks and distracts
The public with a far-fetched explanation,
While paying no attention to the facts.

A lot of us believe that truthfulness
And honesty should always be our guide--
Good investigative journalists
Check the facts so truths are verified.

We can see the demagogues at work.
Oh, how they twist the truth to meet their needs!
They finely tune their powers of deception
So they can get away with their misdeeds.

It helps when they have power and control--
Particularly when they have the latter--
And when they have supporters who believe
That lying isn't wrong and facts don't matter.

So if you feed me nonsense and proclaim
That honesty is not obligatory,
Then you confirm what I have just expressed:
At times there are not two sides to a story.

-by Bob B (2-26-22)

The Dems duked it out last week.
The Democratic debate number three.
At the current time we have
Quite a political potpourri.

Cory Booker had his moments
Of passionate insight, charm, and wit.
Although his polling numbers are down,
Booker showed that he's got grit.

Klobuchar's our Minnesotan.
While sometimes others appear misguided,
She reminds us all what happens
To any house that is divided.

Warren has her plan for this
And her plan for that, which is fine.
Can she keep up the fight and maintain
The strength to toe the party line?

Harris displayed pluck and resolve.
When she speaks, she's on fire.
It's just curious as to why
Her polling numbers are not higher.

One surprise was Beto O'Rourke.
Beto fans have to rejoice:
This prospective candidate
Has all of a sudden found his voice.

Without a doubt, one of the best
Speakers standing there on the stage
Was our veteran Mayor Pete,
Extremely wise for someone his age.

Although Biden is high in the polling,
At times his answers seem disjointed.
I start with high expectations,
But end up feeling disappointed.

Castro went after Joe Biden.
But sadly Castro's condemnation
Appeared to come less from strength
And more out of desperation.

Yang has managed to keep afloat.
But what's this crazy idea he has
About wanting to buy your vote?
A little political razzmatazz?

Bernie, well…Bernie's Bernie.
But why does he have to be so gruff?
After his rants, one wants to say,
"Enough already, Bernie, enough!"

It's early still and hard to know
Who will advance and who will flop.
But I would vote for ANYONE
Over the current man at the top!

-by Bob B (9-15-19)

The D.T. Playbook: Chapter 2:
Alienate your allies and friends.
Then sidle up to strongmen
Leaders, pretending to make amends.

Impose tariffs on your close allies.
Oh, yes, and don't forget
To stupidly suggest that they
Could possibly be a national threat.

Countries that were threats in the past
Might be scrambling head over heels
To make what in the future for you
Will be lucrative business deals.

Overlook the fact that your
Dictator friends have a score
Of D minus or F on human
Rights violations heretofore.

Although you and your allies have
Supported one another for years,
Let them know that you support
Countries that will give you cheers.

Keep ignoring foreign involvement
In past elections. Instead attack
People in your own system.
Tell them faith is what they lack.

Don't forget: distractions, distractions.
Always keep confusion brewing
So people have a tough time seeing
What kind of damage you are doing.

Finally, keep repeating words
And phrases over and over. Create
The illusion that your strategies
Are going to make the country great.

-by Bob B (6-8-18)

The sum of our experiences:
That's who we are.
Do our experiences guide us
To reach for that distant star?
 
Do they allow us to see
Through a person's façade?
Do they help us uncover
Dangerous deceit and fraud?
 
Do they take us to places
Of deep and profound thought
Outside our ego selves,
Where we're something we're not?
 
Or do our experiences hold us
In a superficial realm
Or on a ship of mindlessness
With ignorance at the helm?
 
Do they allow us to open
Both our minds and our hearts--
To discard superstition
And embrace what reason imparts?
 
Since we're made up of all
That we have seen and known,
How reassuring it is
To know we're not alone.

That reassurance
Should make us mindfully strive
To work for the good of all people
So that our planet can thrive.

- by Bob B

If Trump wants to read Fire and Fury
I would suggest that he hurry.
The next exposé
Will be more risqué
And give him more reason to worry.

Was Donald Trump feeling forlorn,
And afterwards did he feel torn,
From having a fling
And feeling like king
With one of the hot queens of ****?

If Bannon would do what he oughtta,
He'd check out his list of errata,
For now he has learned
How it feels to get burned
And be Trump's persona non grata.

From watching the news on the tele
We're seeing much more of John Kelly.
Our first thoughts of him
Were not quite so grim,
But he's become Machiavelli.

Trump was really obsessed
With proving his mind was the best.
His cognitive exam
Was probably a sham,
And most people are not impressed.

A leader went out on a limb
And joined a new fitness gym.
"Forget it!" he said.
"I'd rather be dead.
To hell with me being slim."

-by Bob B (1-21-18)

The travel-weary pilgrim trudged
Onward toward his goal--
Hoping to find peace and comfort
For his questioning soul.
 
Uphill and downhill, through forests and fields,
Step by step he plodded
Upon the blistering path. While passing
Fellow pilgrims he nodded.
 
Beating down upon him the sun--
Merciless, piercing, terrible--
Made each step an agonizing
Ordeal--harsh and unbearable.
 
A restful night at a hostel or shelter
Was refuge from the pain
Of hours and hours of walking
Through sweltering heat or rain.
 
Some days were kinder--the sun was gentle,
The breeze was soft and cool.
He'd stop and gaze at the blue sky above him
And wash his feet in a pool.
 
But usually hungry and thirsty he journeyed,
Hoping not to find
That after hours of walking and stumbling
He'd left something behind.
 
Loosening the cutting strap of his backpack
And giving his dry lips a lick,
He carefully wiped his dripping brow
And clutched his walking stick.
 
If his pilgrimage didn't bring him
Closer to God, it would
At least bring him closer to himself,
And that alone would be good.

- by Bob B

Every time a shooting occurs,
We shake our heads in disbelief.
Subsequent dialogues reach
An impasse that further deepens our grief.

Democrats insist that current
Gun laws are not strict enough--
An idea that many Republican
Lawmakers firmly rebuff.

Those same Republicans
Choose to exercise their might
In protecting what they consider
Americans' Second Amendment right.

Democrats, in disagreement,
Counter with increasing frustration
That aspects of the Second Amendment
Leave much room for interpretation.

"This is not the time," some say,
"For lengthy discussions on gun control."
And once again we find ourselves
Going down the rabbit hole.

Gun violence here is inter-
Nationally unparalleled.
A vicious circle perpetuates
A tragedy that's unexcelled.

Guns in the wrong hands we know
Will have violent repercussions.
The only way to solve the problem
Will come from having healthy discussions.

If we maintain the status quo,
Read the writing on the wall:
Death and violence will increase
If no action is taken at all.

-by Bob B (6-15-17)

How many pickles can Mr. Pecker
Put the prickly president in?
All of his predicaments
Already make a person's head spin.

Trump's a master at putting himself
In his own pickles, without much assistance.
His course for putting himself in a jam
Follows the path of least resistance.

David Pecker, CEO
Of the NATIONAL ENQUIRER,
For a long time has been a chief
Donald Trump admirer.

(Trump, by the way, is of the opinion--
And, no, this is not a gag--
That David Pecker's paper is
Truly a highly respectable rag.)

Anyway, Pecker is now
Tied to the Michael Cohen case.
It's his turn to pass the baton
In this criminal relay race.

They say that Pecker has a secure
Safe--or vault--that once contained
Hush money stories of Trump.
Can their whereabouts be explained?

Won't it be curious to hear the songs
That Mr. Pecker is going to sing?
There's still so much to be uncovered
Revolving around the cover-up king.

By the way, if you want
To alter your name, you can arrange it.
If Pecker were your family name,
Don't you think you'd want to change it?

-by Bob B (8-24-18)

Thanksgiving Day was fast approaching,
And family members and friends were cheerful.
At the same time, however, people
Were starting to feel a little bit fearful.

The holiday attendees were split
As to their feelings regarding the POTUS.
If he appeared on the TV screen,
They'd have to pretend to take no notice.

The day arrived and all were together,
Watching football and having fun
Talking about a myriad of topics--
Everything BUT that certain ONE.

The turkey was carved; the dinner was ready.
Every Thanksgiving's a major feat.
Grannie sat at the head of the mile-long
Table and yelled, "Come and eat!"

Food was passed this way and that way;
Mounds appeared on everyone's plate.
They all wanted to savor the food
But found that each new bite couldn't wait.

Suddenly, Grannie blurted out,
"STOP eating! Before you resume,
I'd like to talk about something important,
And that's the elephant in the room."

Aunt Margaret practically choked
While Uncle Bill patted her back.
Cousin Katie gulped and fanned
Herself, feeling the room go black.

The uncomfortable silence lingered.
Uncle Ernie kicked his wife
Under the table. The tension was so
Thick it could be cut with a knife.

"Why is everyone so uptight?”
Asked Grannie. "I'm sure you all agree
That it was time for a change, and so…
That's why I bought an SUV!"

Everyone felt a wave of relief
Pass through his or her body, and then
The sounds of delight filled the room
As everyone started eating again,

Saying such things as "Cool, Grannie!"
"Of course, Mother!" "I know I
Think you deserve whatever you want.
Now let's have some pumpkin pie!"

Thanksgiving Day went just as it should;
Nobody fought; no one was maimed.
We have a wonderful time when we don't
Talk about him who should not be named.

(11-22-17) Bob B

Hateful rhetoric incites hateful actions;
Some don't like to admit it, but it's true.
Wintry blasts provide few satisfactions
And turn unprotected fingers blue.

Averting one's glance suggests a transient solution.
Keeping oneself aloof can cause dismay.
Failure to address an issue such as pollution
Will not make the problem go away.

Insinuations challenge understanding--
Leaving reputations scarred or bruised.
Honesty is blameless but demanding,
Though tactfulness can often be excused.

Sincerity soothes our expectations
And overwhelms verbal attacks or girds.
Silence has double applications
And often speaks much louder than our words.

- by Bob B

Well done, Adam!°
Let the truth be told.
Obstruction, lies, and abuse of power
All are getting old.

Don't falter, Adam.
Some of your colleagues' actions
Are meant to confuse and stir up doubt.
They are mere distractions.

Show what happens, Adam,
When a leader places
His own interests above the nation's
And even above his base's.

Don't stop, Adam,
Doing what is right.
Don't let far-right fantasies
Obstruct your line of sight.

Open the eyes, Adam,
Of those who live in denial.
Show the dangers of cultish clinging
To those across the aisle.

The president, Adam,
Has to know that his
Corrupt behavior shows the world
What he truly is.

Whatever happens, Adam,
Put your mind at rest.
If people fail to see the light,
At least you've done your best.

-by Bob B (11-23-19)

°Adam Schiff, Chair of the House Intelligence Committee

One guy says the other guy did it;
The other guy denies it.
The world watches the back and forth
As stations televise it.

In what the one doesn't say
Much can be inferred
If the listener carefully
Examines every word.

When the other opens his mouth
Different worlds collide
As outrageous accusations
Knock the truth aside.

The first one has a sterling record;
The other one's pants are on fire.
Would you believe the first one OR
The pathological liar?

- By Bob B (6-10-17)

The lizards crouched on a desert rock,
Quietly reminiscing,
When all of a sudden one of the members
Noticed that one was missing.

“Where is Sunny?” he asked the others.
“Is he under the weather?
Come to think of it, he wasn’t here
The last time we were together.”

“Poor Sunny,” the patriarch said,
“Isn’t himself these days.
He even lacks the motivation
To come and soak up some rays.

"Haven't you noticed that recently
His eyes have lost their twinkle?
For some of us it’s the end of the world;
For others it’s just a wrinkle.”

Then he added, "Sometimes in life
A sad thing can occur,
And suddenly we realize that
We're not what we were.

“So, what I have to share with you,
I say with no compunction:
Sunny seems to suffer from
A case of reptile dysfunction.”

-by Bob B (8-7-21)

"I'm an Alabamian
And proud to be one, too.
Nobody is going to tell me
What to say or do.
So, when it comes to voting,
I have got one rule:
Since I'm a Republican
And no, I'm no one's fool,
And also since the candidates
All have different aims,
I'll vote only for the ones
With R's next to their names.

"I don't care if you’re a cad;
You will toe the line
If your thoughts on God and guns
Correspond to mine.
You can be knocked off the bench
And thumb your nose at laws.
I don't know what you could do
That would give me pause.
Stealing from your charity?
Even that's fair game.
I will vote for you 'cause there's
An R next to your name.

"I don't care what you have done
In your cloudy past.
I don't care how many accu-
Sations you've amassed.
How you've treated women, well,
That is just your style.
I don't even care if you
Were once a *******,
Or if you blasted Muslims or
Transgenders with no shame,
You will get my vote 'cause there's
An R next to your name."

-by Bob B (11-18-17)

Karma is a *****, they say.
We still resist having to learn
That our  missteps have negative
Results that will happen in turn.

Afghanistan, in 1919,
Drove out the British. A definite win
For the landlocked nation. Sixty years later--
In '79--the Russians moved in.

We armed extremists to fight the Russians.
Now, how could that strategy not
Be effective in the long run?
No skin off our teeth, we thought.

The Russians left. Our job was over.
Afghanistan was in disarray.
Our lack of support for a country in shambles
Surely helped to pave the way

For the Taliban to take control.
Anti-American sentiment grew.
The country became a haven for terrorists.
It's useless for us to wish it weren't true.

For the past sixteen years American
Soldiers have fought an ongoing war
Against the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
The consequences are hard to ignore.

We’re caught up in a vicious circle.
We're stuck in a quagmire--a living hell.
To send more troops to a war we can't win
Is not an easy program to sell.

Have all avenues been considered?
Could the region ever be able
To find a peaceful solution by getting
All parties to come to the table?

We've gotten ourselves in a situation
Where little goes according to plan.
How many more people will die
From fighting in Afghanistan?

(8-24-17) By Bob B

Noah was righteous (though maybe
A bit of a stick in the mud),
So God decided to save him
And his family from the great flood.
 
Again going over the instructions
After building his ark,
He had a couple of questions
Before they could embark.
 
“It says here that I need two
Of every living thing.
But I have some misgivings:
That’s going to be hard to swing.
 
“What’s this about a pl...platypus,
And penguin and k...kangaroo?
And I need to find two skunks.
What am I going to do?
 
“If I don’t find these animals,
They’ll think my work is a sham.
Ah, I know what I’ll do:
I’ll delegate this job to Ham.
 
“But first, another question
Is going to be hard to solve,
And that is the problem of food
And what it is going to involve.
 
“‘All food eaten on Earth’
Has to be on our boat.
With all that food and the animals,
How will we stay afloat?
 
“There’s another problem:
My lions aren’t nice and sweet,
And they have a strong preference
For gazelle and antelope meat.
 
“Cramped in so tight a space,
I hope we all don’t smother.
How will I keep the animals
From eating one another?”
 
He gave his list to Ham
And said, “I’ve found you some work.
I’ve got too much on my mind,
And it’s driving me berserk.”
 
Then Ham elicited help
From brothers Japheth and Shem.
No one else was available
To help him aside from them.
 
There were millions of species
Of animals that they had to find!
They’d be in a lot of trouble
If they left any behind.
 
Noah’s curse on Ham
Didn’t come till much later.
Meanwhile Ham had a few
Questions for his pater.
 
“Now, about this floodwater—
I'm not disrespecting your wishes—
Will it be salty or fresh?
It makes a difference to fishes.
 
“And for forty days and nights
We’ll be floating around;
When the waters recede,
Won’t all the plants have drowned?”
 
Noah said, “Don’t even go there!
There’s no time to stall.
Let’s get a move on before
Raindrops start to fall.”

- by Bob B

Crossing the Rio Grande in May,
A Honduran man with his wife and his son
Sought asylum, only to find
Their struggles here had barely begun.

Taken to a processing center,
The family learned the disheartening news:
They would have to be separated.
Having no say-so, they couldn't refuse.

Farewell, Marco Antonio Muñoz.
Some say, "We warned you time after time."
You came for help, and look what happened:
Seeking asylum became your crime.

A CBP° spokesman said that Muñoz
Became "combative" and started to yell.
What parent wouldn't in that situation?
Muñoz was moved and locked in a cell.

Authorities checked on Muñoz often
Not expecting what lay in store
For them in the morning, for one of them found
Muñoz lying dead on the floor.

"Self-strangulation and hanging" they say
Were what caused the father's demise.
Would he be holding his son right now
Had conditions been otherwise?

Farewell, Marco Antonio Muñoz.
Some say, "We warned you time after time."
You came for help, and look what happened:
Seeking asylum became your crime.

AG Sessions feels zero tolerance
Will separate the wheat from the chaff--
That Trump believes in the rule of law.
Mr. Sessions, don't make us laugh!

Others have suffered a similar fate
As a result of our cruel demands.
Our leaders will offer their justification,
But they still have blood on their hands.

Farewell, Marco Antonio Muñoz.
Some say, "We warned you time after time."
You came for help, and look what happened:
Seeking asylum became your crime.

-by Bob B (6-12-18)

°Customs and Border Patrol

Surrounded by hype, Devin Nunes
Scripted his daily reality show,
While flurries of words on right-wing TV
Gave the viewers vertigo.

The "memo" was the talk of the land.
"Release the memo!" was the rage.
Conspirators wanted to prove wrong-doing--
Biased treatment of Carter Page

And bias toward the president.
Creating a specious storyline
From FBI reports, Trump's
Lackeys attempted to undermine

An ongoing investigation.
All it did was fall with a thud.
Despite Sean Hannity's ranting and raving,
The memo proved to be a dud.

Combine conspiracy theory news,
A cherry-picked narrative filled with holes,
Eagerly manipulated
Believers and Russian bots and trolls,

And you have a farce of epic proportions--
A bucket of chaos, filled to the brim.
As John McCain so wisely put it:
"We're doing Putin's work for him."

-by Bob B (2-3-18)

"No medicine for me," a patient says.
"If God wants me healthy, He will cure me.
Your pills and your shots and your treatments, Doctor,
Do nothing to comfort or assure me."
 
God notices the woman's stubbornness
And shakes His head in utter disbelief.
"Why doesn't she realize that I gave her
Doctors and medicine to give her relief?"
 
"Why should I help the sick and needy?"
Asks a man. "Let them fulfill
Their own destinies. If I can manage,
Why can't they? It could be God's will."
 
God shakes His head again in amazement.
"Why does he think I came up with compassion
And the concept of sharing and helping others?
Love is not a thing that we ration."
 
A fire approaches a family's home;
The fireman instructs them to leave the vicinity.
The family members refuse to flee
And await a message from their Divinity.
 
"What is wrong with people?" God asks.
"I sent a fireman to protect them from danger.
Why don't they use the reason I gave them?
I swear: Some people grow stranger and stranger."
 
"God told me to hate those people,"
Says a man, carrying a sign.
Spewing his venom, he spreads his lies
Based on reasons he claims are divine.
 
"Who the heck does he think he is
To claim that he knows how I think and feel?"
Cries God, losing patience with people
Whose hateful behavior is far from ideal.
 
"Reason clouded by ego and hatred?
Compassion clouded by anger and greed?
Judgment clouded by irrationality?
Some people really make my heart bleed!
 
"But wait! Somebody else is calling.
What is it now? Is this a mistake?
This one wants help to win SURVIVOR!
Come on, people! Give me a break!"

- by Bob B

Hang in there, investigative
Reporters! Your work is cut out for you.
Help to be our eyes and ears,
And don't give up, whatever you do!

You have to work all the harder
When our democracy erodes.
When leaders silence your voices, imagine
The horrors that such a stifling forebodes.

Watch out for unscrupulous groups
Who try to discredit your needed work--
Who try to set you up for failure
And then sit by and smugly smirk.

Keep our corporations and our
Elected officials on their toes.
You say that no one's above the law.
There! You hit it on the nose!

Seek out corruption, abuse, and fraud.
Put our leaders' words to the test.
If there's suspicion, follow the money.
The one who laughs last, laughs best.

Authoritarian rulers dislike
A questioning, prying press. No wonder
They try to break you and call you fake,
Hoping you will knuckle under.

When people are manipulated
To criticize, attack, and doubt you,
Just remember, brave reporters:
Democracy CAN'T survive without you.

-by Bob B (12-23-17)

Lower the flag to half-staff.
Sing out loudly. Repeat the refrain:
Let us honor the legacy
And life of Senator John McCain.

McCain was the son and grandson of navy
Admirals. In his wild past he
Garnered a nickname from fellow students
Due to his cockiness: McNasty.

Later McCain's cockiness
Transformed into pluck, resolve, and verve.
Following in his father's footsteps,
He, too, decided to serve.

McCain proved that he could succeed
Despite not being at the top of his class.
Though he was fifth from the bottom at the
Academy, he would still pass.

Off to Southeast Asia he went.
On one mission while trying to destroy
A power plant, his plane was shot down
Over the skies of central Hanoi.

Captured, brutally beaten, and tortured,
McCain spent over 2,000 days
At the "Hanoi Hilton"--not what he
Would call in life his happiest phase.

Released in 1973
And broken in body but not in spirit,
He'd serve his country in other ways.
Life gets you down only if you fear it.

Elected to the House in '82
And then to the Senate in '86,
McCain wanted to make a difference
By throwing himself into politics.

In his first run for president,
A smear campaign did him in.
He tried again in 2008,
But again he wasn't meant to win.

A "maverick" they called McCain.
He didn't seek glory, fame, or applause.
Fighting for causes larger than himself
Was truly fighting for a real cause.

Many a politician on both
The right and left would admit to be a fan
Of John McCain. One didn't have to
Agree with him to respect the man.

Not afraid to admit his mistakes,
And though often called a hawk,
McCain came around to admit his error
In having supported the war in Iraq.

He'd also call out the president
If the leader abused his power
Or acted in ways that he considered
Unseemly. McCain would never cower.

McCain was also quick to forgive.
Note his efforts: for peace to thrive,
He pressed to restore relations with
Vietnam in '95.

"We need to learn the lessons of history,"
McCain declared. He also detested
Hearing the media called the enemy.
When he heard that, he protested.

Although he called himself an "imperfect
Public servant," McCain had style.
Not afraid to compromise,
He reached out to colleagues across the aisle.

The "joyful warrior" and "lion of the Senate"
Lived with dignity and honor, and not
Like some people in power to whom
Such qualities are an afterthought.

John McCain's battles in life
And challenges would never cease
Until he succumbed to a brain tumor.
May he now rest in peace!

Lower the flag to half-staff.
Sing out loudly. Repeat the refrain:
Let us honor the legacy
And life of Senator John McCain.

-by Bob B (8-28-18)

Seventeen people lost their lives
At a high school on Valentine's Day
In the city of Parkland, Florida.
Students and teachers, by the way.

Yesterday at Pompano Beach
The last victim was laid to rest
Of the seventeen killed at the school.
Oh, how far we've progressed!

For meanwhile, a so-called preacher
In Pennsylvania made a plea,
Asking couples to bring to church
Their AR-15s to be blessed, you see.

Whenever there's an incident,
From out of the woodwork lunatics spring.
So now at church they're blessing guns?
Crackpots will bless anything!

Insensitivity knows no limits
When humankind's ignorance rages.
Is this the twenty-first century,
Or are we living in the Dark Ages?

-by Bob B (2-26-18)

(Do you know the 1958 Sheb Wooley song "The Purple People Eater"? Here is a poem/song version for 2024.)

Well, this strange phenomenon came walking our way
With a deep orange glow. Boy what a day!
'Twas the weirdest creature you ever could see.
It looked like an orangish freedom hater to me.

It was a big ol', foul-mouthed, lyin' orangish freedom hater.
(Big ol', foul-mouthed, lyin' orangish freedom hater.)
A big ol', foul-mouthed, lyin' orangish freedom hater.
NOT so fun to see! (Loud mouth?)

So he came to this land to spread all of his hate
And he told people here that he would make them great.
He also said he's the chosen one!
His first time here was a mere dry run!

It was a big ol', foul-mouthed, lyin' orangish freedom hater.
(Big ol', foul-mouthed, lyin' orangish freedom hater.)
A big ol', foul-mouthed, lyin' orangish freedom hater.
'Twas so weird to see! (Big old?)

We asked the orangish freedom hater, "What's your plan?"
Then HE said, "Doing what it takes to be a moneyman.
But what's more important is to meet my goal:
To kick out non-loyalists and be in control."

Well, boogeyman, Putin fan, lyin' orangish freedom hater,
Addled-brained, unrestrained, lyin' orangish freedom hater.
(He wears golf pants) lyin' orangish freedom hater.
Looks so strange to me!

He said he HAD many friends who could help him succeed,
And he asked us why we had a problem with greed.
He said that greed's a virtue and it must be clear--
That the government shouldn't stop a profiteer!

Well, boogeyman, Putin fan, lyin' orangish freedom hater,
Addled-brained, unrestrained, lyin' orangish freedom hater.
(He loves golf pants) lyin' orangish freedom hater.
Strange? You must agree! (Freedom hater?)

There's a problem with him, and, yes, it's sad to say:
It looked as though he would be here to stay.
"Move to Russia," we said--"a perfect country for you.
Let the Russian dictator make all your dreams come true."

-by Bob B (9-7-24)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67tKNEsJjTI

The year started out with a kick in the ****
With the inauguration of Donald Trump,
Which was overshadowed one day later
By the Women's March, which was many times greater.
Trump continued tweeting--his words and actions
Really amounting to nothing but major distractions.
He kept certain targets within his sights:
Immigration and LGBT rights.
Oh, and health care, too. Let's not forget
How many people and groups he has upset.
The year saw an increasing acceleration
Of the Mueller Russia/Trump investigation,
Which Donald Trump has constantly tried to defuse
By calling it a witch hunt and fake news.

Also as the new commander-in-chief he
Gave us a brand new word to use: covfefe.
Republicans who attacked their leader at first,
Later showed their feelings had reversed--
Especially those who will benefit greatly
From a horrible tax bill passed only lately.
(Some think that Putin has some dirt on them.
If that came out, wouldn't it be a gem?)
This year we saw the repeal of net neutrality
As we start to deal with a bleak reality.
Don't forget the Trump trip to the Far East,
Which ended up being a big flattery feast.
Many fear our safety is more unsound
As Trump and Kim Jong Un go round and round.

Trump boasts of how he's always hired
The best people; but notice how many he's fired,
Or how many have left his admin team!
A shoddy reputation is hard to redeem.
We've seen racism lift its ugly head,
And not denouncing it, Trump instead
Talked about fine people on each side!
He is constantly taking us for a ride.
Hurricanes in the South and in Puerto Rico
Brought great devastation to our eco-
System, and huge, destructive fires out West
Pointed to issues that must be addressed.
To show he's one of life's shining beacons,
Trump threw paper towels to the Puerto Ricans.

But Trump and fans continue to deny
Effects of climate change, and we know why.
Over 300 mass shootings this year°
Plagued our nation, but lobbyists persevere.
We saw the fall of many well-known men
For ****** misconduct, and once again
We ask why some men feel they're above the law
And wonder when they'll meet their last hurrah.
This is only the tip of the iceberg, true--
Only some of the hell that we've gone through.
A lot is happening in the world, but we,
Instead of seeing the forest, see one tree.
Let's NOT repeat this year to the letter;
Let's hope that 2018 is much, much better.

-by Bob B (12-31-17)

°tracked by the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive

A heat wave has hit.
While some people are boasting
About their cool air,
In our house we're roasting.

Fans help a little.
But frankly I have found
That all they tend to do
Is blow hot air around.

People say, "Be cool!
No reason to fret."
Easy for them to say.
I hate to sweat!

I have to tell myself
If I'm crabby and terse,
That I should feel lucky.
Things could be much worse.

A wise man once said,
"Here's some food for thought:
When it's cold, be cold;
When it's hot, be hot."

Wise words, I thought.
I'll apply them now,
As I downed my water
And wiped the sweat from my brow.

Still, when winter comes,
I know my thoughts will teeter,
And you'll be sure to find me
Shivering by the heater.

-by Bob B (8-31-17)

A lie has tremendous power
To trick, to dupe, to deceive,
Until people don't know
What they should believe.

Lies dealt profusely
Appear in varied capacities,
And artful dealers can make
Untruths sound like veracities.

Though they're sickeningly sweet,
Unctuous, and runny,
Lies can nonetheless give
The truth a run for its money.

A certain news agency
Dons a clever disguise;
And then as sly as a Fox,
It spreads its vicious lies.

Mendacious information
Insults the people that hear it.
History has shown us
That there's a reason to fear it.

We see all the time
That lies have a snowball effect
And gather more momentum
When they go unchecked.

When leaders resort to lying,
Though their words are disproved,
The people will live in *******
Until that leader's removed.

The truth can sometimes hurt.
Falsehoods, however, annoy,
Bear down on humanity,
Abuse, defile, and destroy.

-by Bob B (12-12-17)

Hawks are present. Perhaps you can't
See them all, but they are there--
Waiting for the perfect moment
To capture you, unaware.

You are told it has to do with
Needed management and control.
But know they long to tear you apart
Because they cannot swallow you whole.

Are they circling overhead?
Listen carefully; decipher their cries.
Despite what you are told to believe,
They want to rule the land and skies.

Always on the lookout for victims,
They tie power and strength to wealth.
They seek out the vulnerable.
Their strategy: attack by stealth.

While you earn your livelihood--
Working hard to make ends meet--
To them you are nothing but
A menu item--something to eat.

They can spot you from far away.
Your home's a fragile sanctuary.
Is your encounter part of a plan,
Or is it strictly arbitrary?

When they say, "Do not fear;
We're your friends." That's not true.
One false move and it's all over.
Certain things you can't undo.

It doesn't matter whether you
Are fast or slow, strong or frail,
Once they have you, say good-bye.
Your screams will be of no avail.

-by Bob B (8-4-18)

Certain Republican members of Congress
And White House staff have of late
Had a lot of difficulty
Keeping their made-up stories straight.

Senators Graham and Durbin reacted
When Trump referred to "*******" nations
And thus disparaged Salvadorians,
People in African countries and Haitians.

But Senators Perdue and Cotton
At first said they weren't aware
Whether the president said the word
And tried not to get caught in the snare.

A couple days later they said, NO,
He didn't say "*******" at all.
How convenient: this sudden change
Of mind from nothing to sudden recall.

After that they changed their stories.
It wasn't "*******" but instead
The word was "*******." Yes, that was
What President Trump had said.

At first Trump didn't deny it,
But later said his language was "tough."
(But we've heard what comes out of his mouth
Whenever he speaks off the cuff.)

What difference does it make?
The word isn't the main point here.
Attitude, racist feelings,
And lack of respect are very clear.

Once they lie, they have to keep lying--
They have to keep plugging away.
As their stories change, the liars
Look more foolish every day.

-by Bob B (1-17-18)

We eat soup with a knife.
We cut steak with a spoon;
The sun shines at night;
The stars come out at noon.

The earth has too few people.
Sugar makes you strong.
Giraffes have short necks;
Elephants' necks are long.

Glaciers are not melting;
Earth is growing cooler.
Thirteen inches make
A simple foot-long ruler.

Don't look at me
As though I'm totally cracked.
Each of the above
Is an alternative fact.  

"Now that we are gathered here,
Let us count all the ways
I have been successful in
My first 143 days.

"When we look at my wonderful record,
It's impossible not to see
That no other president
Has ever done more than me.

"So let's go around the table.
I would like to hear from you.
Tell me what you think of me--
Of course, from MY point of view."

"Thank you," said Secretary Priebus,
Opening his packet of Splenda,
"For the opportunity
And blessing to serve your agenda."

The lavishing of praise continued.
They knew what would come to pass
If they didn't pour it on
And kiss the president's giant ***.

- by Bob B (6-13-17)