(This poem can be sung to the melody of "America: My Country, 'Tis of Thee.")

Something can't be dismissed:
Two nations now exist
In this great land.
How did this come about?
How did divisions sprout?
How did mistrust and doubt
Get out of hand?

One nation wants to be
Ruled by democracy.
That is its goal.
It always sets it sights
On people's voting rights.
When freedom hits the heights,
We will be whole.

Our other nation seems
Sold out to gross extremes.
That's how it thrives.
It finds itself at ease
With fake conspiracies.
On truth it puts the squeeze,
Yet it survives.

One nation has no ties
With far-fetched myths and lies.
Hope is its guide--
Hope that we can be free
From an autocracy--
Hope for equality:
May it abide!

Our other nation cleaves
To myths that it believes
Will make it strong.
*******, it will state,
Is that which makes it great.
Pow'r to discriminate
Is its theme song.

Our country, will it last,
Or is our split too vast?
What do we need?
Let truth and reason reign.
From hatred let's abstain.
Let's all be more humane.
Make that our creed.

-by Bob B (9-14-21)

The recent anti-vaccine mandate
Rally in Washington, D.C.
Was without a doubt a real
Conspiracy theory potpourri.

Participants' wild speeches and comments
Were off the mark and hard to digest.
People have called the gathering
A regular "conspiracy fest."

Vaccine misinformation was rampant.
First of all, the message gets lost
When life-saving measures are
Insanely compared with the Holocaust.

Blaming the press? Blaming doctors?
Advocating Nuremberg trials?
Evidence of current vaccine
Effectiveness was met with denials.

They don't realize the danger
When vaccine misinformation spreads.
Actually, more people react
Adversely to over-the-counter meds.

Opposing vaccine mandates, however,
Isn't the primary issue at all.
The problem is the dissemination
Of anti-mandate folderol.

It's fair to disagree with mandates
As long as reasons are legit.
But when they're based on baseless lies,
Then the arguments aren't worth spit.

Frankly, the public's safety and health
Are something we shouldn't undermine.
When the next booster comes out,
This guy plans to be first in line.

-by Bob B (1-25-22)

When growing up, I never had
The feeling that I was a finicky *****,
And even though it wasn't a custom
For us to parade around in the ****,

My easygoing Midwestern parents
Never felt that it would befoul
Our minds if after bathing they
Returned to their bedroom wrapped in a towel.

I learned, however, that some people were
In many respects less modest than others.
For instance, my friend's mother's behavior
Was very different from my mother's.

We'd be playing--my friend and I--
When all of a sudden his mom would prance
Into his room not wearing a thing,
Almost as though she was doing a dance.

It was…different, but not for me
A reason for laughing, fleeing, or fainting.
I was used to seeing scores
Of nudes in many a Renaissance painting.

Unfazed, my friend and I continued
To do whatever we were playing
As though we had merely witnessed his mom
Vacuuming, baking pies, or crocheting.

We humans are the only mammals
That stifle our belches, excuse our farts,
And feel that it's very necessary
To cover up our private parts--

Unless you are a nudist, of course.
That, we know, is a different matter.
So, birthday suit or covered body?
I think I will stick with the latter.

I have been to **** beaches
Both in the States and overseas.
Instead of feeling liberated,
I felt a little bit ill at ease.

I do not find ******
Offensive at all, so please take note:
If that's your thing, then be my guest
And do whatever floats your boat.

If "clothes make the man," as the saying goes,
****** levels the playing field.
But I feel more relaxed if certain
Body parts remain concealed.

-by Bob B (5-20-24)

-Confusion-
Whether or not you seek glory,
Whenever you're writing a story,
You'll know on the double
That you're in big trouble
If you confuse "hoary"° with "whorey."

°definition: old and trite

-Grammar-
It's really quite shocking to me
When speakers of English can't see
What they convey
Whenever they
Use "him" when they ought to use "he."

-Subjunctive-
They say the subjunctive° is dying.
If I said, "Who cares?" I'd be lying.
If I were you,
I'd do what I do:
Perfect it! At least I'd keep trying.

°The subjunctive mood expresses wishes, suggestions, demands, or desires.

-Past Participle-
To another thing I must ask "Why?"
To the past participle, say "Bye!"
Why don't folks give a ****
When they say "We have swam,"
"He has ran," "I have drank"? My, oh, my!

-Past Perfect-
The past perfect tense I can tell
Can cause people problems as well.
Some folks abuse it;
Some just don't use it.
Use "had" with the past par…. Ah, hell!

-by Bob B (5-28-24)

The date was June 21
In 1964.
Three men° had no idea
What would be lying in store

When they drove through the South
In efforts to promote
Equality by helping
Register Blacks to vote.

They were in Mississippi,
A place that was known for attacks
On basic human rights--
For disenfranchising Blacks.

Arrested and jailed for speeding,
They should have been alarmed.
The locals were working against them.
Of course, the three were unarmed.

After they left the jailhouse,
They were abducted and killed
And buried in an earthen dam--
Their goals as yet unfulfilled.

Two months later the men's
Bodies were found at the site.
Compassionate people were shocked
As details came to light.

The KKK, the sheriff,
And police were involved in the crime.
All but one of the killers
Served very little time.

After years of struggle
And much to our dismay,
We can see voter suppression
Still occurring today.

Why when we seek fair treatment
Are we up against a wall?
Will we ever secure
Equal justice for all?

-by Bob B (6-22-21)

°James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner

A farmer went to the market one day
To buy another *** for his farm.
He had a few in his stable already,
But adding one more would do no harm.

He came across a nice-looking beast,
In wonderful shape. No denial.
But in order for him to be sure,
He asked if he could take it on trial.

"I want to know what he's like," he said.
"And see how my other animals find him."
The owner agreed, and the farmer left.
The *** plodded along behind him.

"I hope he's like my better workers;
The other ones are as slow as molasses,"
The farmer mumbled. Back at the farm,
He put the *** with the other *****.

After surveying the new surroundings,
The new *** felt that he was able
To choose wisely, and so he befriended
The laziest, greediest *** in the stable.

After observing the ***'s behavior,
Immediately--that same afternoon--
The farmer returned the beast to the owner,
Who was surprised to see him so soon.

"Back already?" the owner said.
"I guess he didn't pass your test.
How did you decide so quickly?
Didn't he get along with the rest?"

“It didn’t take me long to see
His true nature,” the farmer replied.
"He sidled up to the laziest ***
In the stable as soon as he got inside."

To figure out the moral here,
We don't have to dig very deep:
People can know a lot about us
By the company we keep.

-by Bob B (8-14-21)

°An Aesop fable, "The *** and Its Purchaser," retold here in verse

The River of Lies and Deceit keeps flowing.
It's obviously a matter of course.
Desperation and guile feed it,
And Donald Trump is the river's source.

Almost everything that comes
Out of that man's mouth is a lie.
Have the psychoanalysts tried
To figure out the reason why?

Poor ***** training perhaps
When he was a kid, wetting his pants?
Does that explain his nasty behavior?
Does that explain his childish rants?

Call someone a socialist
And that will spell the person's doom,
He thinks. Donald Prevaricator
Ought to be his nom de plume.

He lies about his opponent's record;
He lies when he talks about immigration;
He lies about election polls;
He lies about the state of the nation;

He lies when he speaks of border issues;
He lies about his foreign connections;
He lies about the economy;
He lies about fraud in our elections.

Would it be better to count the times
He tells the truth instead of lying?
Hmm. Let's see. It's going to take
A while to do it…. We're still trying.

How he gets away with it
Is really hard to understand.
Meanwhile, the River of Lies
And Deceit continues to flood the land.

-by Bob B (8-31-24)

(This poem can be sung to the verse and chorus of the Village People's song "Macho Man.")

Trump doesn't like it if you call him TACO° man.
Anyone who calls him that cannot be his fan.
Tariffs up the ying yang--not so cool.
Thinks he's smart but he is just a fool.

Everyone can see that he's the TACO man.
He's turned the U.S.A. into TACOSTAN.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

TACO TACO man--
Trump's nothing but the TACO man.
TACO TACO man--
Just call him Mr. TACO (man).
TACO TACO man--
He'll cheat you any way that he can.
Know that that's his plan.
Just call him Mr. TACO (man).

You can read right through him; he's like an open book.
The people who are near him know he is a crook.
******* over others: his routine,
With the biggest ego that we've seen.

Everyone can see that he's the TACO man.
A boy who will not grow up, he's just like Peter Pan.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

TACO TACO man--
Trump's nothing but the TACO man.
TACO TACO man--
Just call him Mr. TACO (man).
TACO TACO man--
He'll cheat you any way that he can.
Know that that's his plan.
Just call him Mr. TACO (man).

He has filed for bankruptcy many many times.
One wonders when he'll have to pay for all his crimes.
Filling all his coffers to the brim,
He thinks corruption, greed, and grift can't hurt HIM.

It's so obvious that he's the TACO man.
We saw his shenanigans before his term began.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

TACO TACO man--
Trump's nothing but the TACO man.
TACO TACO man--
Just call him Mr. TACO (man).
TACO TACO man--
He'll cheat you any way that he can.
Know that that's his plan.
Just call him Mr. TACO (man).

-by Bob B (6-12-25)
(Thanks to Larry R for the inspiration.)

°The term "TACO trade" was first coined by Financial Times columnist Robert Armstrong and stands for "Trump Always Chickens Out." Some people prefer "Trump Always Cheats Others."

All was still on the temple grounds.
The sun softened the morning haze
While birds playfully pranced about,
Enjoying the warmth from the sun's gentle rays.

Morning meditation ended.
The master excused the monks to do
Their duties. A novice stayed behind
To ask for a private interview.

"I understand," he said, "that it's
Time for us to do our chores,
But I have an urgent problem.
Can we speak behind closed doors?"

They entered the dokusan chamber where
Regular interviews took place.
The novice closed the door to the chamber.
There they sat, face to face.

The novice said, "I don't know
What to do. I'm bored to death
With daily meditation sessions.
I'm SO tired of watching my breath!"

The master nodded his head and replied,
"Bored, you say. Hmmm. I see."
He stood up, walked to the door,
Turned and said, "Come with me."

He led the monk to the river's edge.
There he grabbed him by the head
And held it under the rushing water
Until the young monk’s face turned red.

The novice squirmed and flailed his arms,
"I am going to drown!" he thought.
When the master freed him, the monk
Gasped for air, feeling distraught.

Admitting that his strategies
Were such that some would disallow,
The master said to the monk, “Tell me:
Are you bored with your breath right now?"

-by Bob B (4-1-19)

°An old Zen anecdote retold here in verse

Russian soldier, throw down your arms.
Turn around and leave Ukraine.
Are you proud of what you're doing--
Of all the innocent people you've slain?

Have you lost your dignity?
Your actions there will be your disgrace.
If you stand in front of a mirror,
How can you look at yourself in the face?

Doesn't it faze you when you hear
The cries of the people, day and night?
When homes and schools and hospitals
Are bombed, don't you feel contrite?

Have you lost some fellow soldiers
All because of Putin's lies--
Even though he calls his war
A military exercise?

Were your buddies' dying bodies
Left behind on the streets to rot?
Can you fathom the repercussions
Of what's going on, or can you not?

Are you proud of laying waste
To cities and towns in your neighboring land?
Human compassion: Could that be
Something you don't understand?

Stop doing Vladimir Putin's bidding!
Refuse his atrocious orders. Rebel.
Put an end to war crimes there,
And tell the tyrant to go to hell.

-by Bob B (3-24-22)

Is it a fair accusation
That Facebook spreads misinformation?
QAnon lies--
No big surprise--
Are truly a cause of vexation.

Freedom of speech, people say.
If they want to lie, that's okay.
That they bespatter
The truth with their chatter
Seems to grow worse day by day.

But QAnon isn't alone.
Other groups also have shown
That lying's an art,
So they play their part.
The extent of the damage? Unknown.

Yet Facebook insists it is trying
To clamp down on all of the lying.
But the COVID distortions
Are at epic proportions,
And thus many people are dying.

-by Bob B (7-19-21)

The prosecutor versus the felon:
The felon had better be wary.
THIS prosecutor will be
A powerful adversary.

Both are running for president.
The felon thinks that he
Can disconcert the prosecutor,
Who happens to be a she.

She can see directly through
The tactics that he uses
To boost his power and also to flout
The laws that he abuses.

Perceptive, undaunted, astute, and wise,
She knows a con when she sees one.
And anyone who pays attention
Certainly knows that he's one.

Judging from past experience,
We know that he'll resort
To unabashedly accepting
His Russian buddy's support.

Come November, voters should
Remember the following quote:
"This is a fight for freedom," she says.
She will get my vote.

-by Bob B (7-26-24)

I ran into Tom Turkey this morning
As he was leaving a bar.
"Starting early?" I asked as I
Stopped and got out of my car.

"Yes," he said, "I'm drowning my sorrows--
More than just a tad.
Many have lost their loved ones lately.
That's why I'm so sad.

"After the recent mass shootings,
How are people able
To sit down and be thankful this year
At their Thanksgiving table?

"Some are going to mourn as they
Sit next to empty chairs
And ask one another plaintively
If anybody cares."

"I know what you mean," I said, "for I
Wonder the very same thing.
Deaths by shootings in this country
Seem to be in full swing."

"I guess," Tom mused, "that people will be
Thankful for what they've got.
Moreover, they will probably be
Thankful that they weren't shot."

"Maybe, " I said, "people could be
Thankful that we have the means
To stop all these atrocities
And end these horrible scenes.

"But that won't happen unless we act.
Certainly that is key.
People who care about this country
Probably will agree.

"And then you've got Putin's war
Devastating Ukraine!"
"Don't get me started on THAT!" he cried,
"You're piling pain upon pain!"

"Gotta go now," he said, as he walked
Away with a wobbly gait,
And added, "I'm thankful that I did NOT
End up on a Thanksgiving plate."

-by Bob B (11-24-22)

Where can I get my remedy
For COVID-19 today?
The president said he knows how he
Can make it go away.

He said it's very simple, for it
Merely involves an injectant--
Just inject into your veins
A household disinfectant!

Let me see: what would be better--
Lysol, Purell, or bleach?
Or maybe he would recommend
Getting a shot of each.

And then he offered another idea:
What might expedite
The death of the virus is bathing ourselves
In ultraviolet light!

For the longest time he pushed
A drug and strongly suggested
That it be made available,
Although it hadn't been tested.

His other strategy has been
To fire or demote
Those who don't agree with him.
Scientists take note.

What a guy! What a leader
To get us through this mess!
Where he gets his bizarre notions
Is anybody's guess.

By the way, he failed to mention
That Lysol injections do
Ultimately **** the virus
BECAUSE THEY **** YOU, TOO!

-by Bob B (4-25-20)

Shadow is a scaredy-cat,
His tough appearance a masquerade.
It takes little to scare him, for even
His own shadow makes him afraid.

Loud noises terrify him.
The telephone rings, a door slams,
A horn honks, fireworks go off,
The vacuum roars and Shadow scrams.

When guests come to pay a visit,
As soon as Shadow hears the sound
Of a knock on the door or the ring of the doorbell,
The scaredy-cat's nowhere to be found.

Under a bed, behind a couch,
Deep in the closet--out of sight--
Shadow waits in the grip of panic,
His green eyes open wide with fright.

One would think that by this time
Shadow's fears would be subsiding.
However, as long as he hears strange voices,
He remains in his places of hiding.

As soon as guests have left the house,
Shadow appears, looking as though
He's saying to his insensitive masters,
"Why do you have to torment me so?"

Whatever is out of the ordinary
To Shadow is an impending threat.
Imagine the pandemonium
Whenever he has to see the vet.

Nobody knows why Shadow's so fearful.
Deep in his past was something traumatic?
His doctor can't begin to explain
Why his behavior is so erratic.

Who can fathom the mind of a cat?
Something frightening must have spooked him.
The sad effects of a horrible nightmare?
Had someone long ago harshly rebuked him?

Astrologers looked at his birth chart to find
What could have caused his alarming neurosis.
“Mercury square Saturn,” they said,
And then they recommended hypnosis.

A Tarot card reader saw the Hermit
And the Eight of Swords, both reversed,
Flanked by the Moon and the Nine of Wands.
“My goodness!” she cried. “The poor cat’s cursed!”

A local preacher dropped by and said,
“I can pray this problem away.”
He then proceeded to speak in tongues.
It didn’t work, needless to say.

If you have a list of suggestions,
Do him a favor and check your list.
If Shadow is going to shake off his fears,
He's going to need a therapist.

-by Bob B (2-1-20)

Stand up for democracy--
For true democracy, I mean,
And NOT for what is being spread
By the far-right propaganda machine.

Stand up for the rights of voters--
For rights that make democracy strong.
Ignore the cries of voter fraud
From folks who try to string you along.

Stand up for integrity
And truth, and do not give the nod
To efforts of many folks on the Right
Who are committing election fraud.

Stand up for the rule of law.
Accountability is key.
No one should be carrying a card
That reads Get Out of Jail Free.

Stand up for a compassionate nation--
One that can learn from past mistakes.
When it approaches danger it knows
How to swerve and apply the brakes.

Stand up for responsible
Behavior. May everybody strive
To work conscientiously
With others to make democracy thrive.

-by Bob B (1-18-22)

On February 1 each year,
Black History Month begins.
Major contributions of Blacks
Are praised, and everybody wins.

But yesterday, we heard the shocking
Reports on the nightly TV news
That fourteen--yes, fourteen!--bomb threats
Occurred at this country's HBCUs.°

Threatening lives and causing disruptions
At Black institutions of learning,
The culprits' hateful acts display
Behavior that is highly concerning.

And at the same time, many states
Are passing laws that sadly embrace
Innocuous and unrealistic
Ways that teachers can talk about race.

If educators are forced to cover
U.S. history insincerely,
Students won't learn the truth of our past,
And Americans will suffer dearly.

So why Black History Month?
What started as an important endeavor
To recognize accomplishments
Is now needed more than ever.

-by Bob B (2-2-22)

°Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Florida wants to show
Its hateful, nasty side
By lashing out at gays
With zeal that it won't hide.
Governor DeSantis
Will not be outdone.
He wants to make a case
Where there's really none.
But who cares what
DeSantis has to say?
Turn his words around
And don't be afraid to say gay.

Other states will now
Attempt to follow suit
With explanations that
They will convolute.
It matters not to them
What is right or wrong.
It's just a culture war
That nudges them along.
When states try to put
Their bigotry on display,
Turn their words around
And don't be afraid to say gay.

Using toxic words
Like "groomers" to suggest
That anyone who's gay
Is on a lecherous quest,
Backers of the bills
Frequently beguile
Voters with the use
Of worlds like "*******."
When fanatics try
To bully you this way,
Turn their words around
And don't be afraid to say gay.

Autocratic rulers,
Backed by troglodytes,
Scorn intolerance
And stomp on human rights.
Don’t let other people
Intimidate you. No!
Just be who you are,
And tell them where to go.
Love is love is love,
So don't be led astray.
Turn their words around
And don't be afraid to say gay.

-by Bob B (4-11-22)

(For some reason, I found this poem in my DRAFTS. I guess I hadn't "published" it for public eyes, and it sat, along with 25 or so of my other poems, in my DRAFTS folder until today. Sorry about the delay.)

The MAGA-monster kept tearing down
Supports in every city and town.
The infrastructure of the nation
Was weakened by widespread strangulation.
The tactics that the monster applied
Were cruel, thoughtless, mean, and snide.
Stripping agencies to the bone,
He acted with glee and wasn't alone.
His loyalists, showing no opposition,
Helped him complete his heartless mission.

A land where freedoms once did abound
Became the monster's battleground.
He didn't merely ostracize
Subjects who didn't believe his lies,
But some he banished; some he would quell
And make their lives a living hell.
His minions sent out scary threats
And dampers were put on safety nets.
Such a demon, historians swore,
Had NEVER attacked this nation before.

The monster said, "I have to get tough.
Destroying one country just isn't enough.
Two countries to our north look inviting.
I must invade them. Oh, how exciting!"
People all over the world were in shock
And couldn't believe his absurd poppycock.
But once an idea entered his head,
He couldn't rest till he put it to bed.
When people suffered, it gave him pleasure.
His ghastly repulsiveness knew no measure.

Across the nation, people protested.
As desperate folks became more invested
In speaking their mind, the monster grew meaner
And felt his vindictive urges grow keener.
He called on his sycophants, saying "Distort
The TRUTH! I count on your total support!"
Politicians needed to fight
Along with the people to do what was right.
Hopes for relief appeared obscure.
How much more pain could the people endure?

(End of Part II)

-by Bob B (3-28-25)

PART ONE follows in case you missed it:

A Monster Story (Part I)

The MAGA-monster reared his head
To see how far his venom would spread.
"How dare they defy me!" he loudly exclaimed.
His hatred and anger could never be tamed.
Whether he told the truth or lied,
Whatever he said could not be defied.
If you chose to disagree,
His enemy was what you would be.
Loyalty was a major concern;
Those who withheld it were those he would spurn.

"I will show 'em!" he loudly roared.
His face turned orange as he brandished his sword.
His sycophantic subjects drew near,
Obsequiously kowtowing in fear.
He didn't care if someone should suffer.
His other concern: to take care of his fluffer--
One of the slimiest toadies around,
Who made the country his new battleground.
The two of them, salaciously smiling,
Had looks on their faces, oddly beguiling.

The monster's coffers were filled to the brim.
EVERYTHING was all about HIM.
He gave the semblance of caring, but no,
His woeful act was all bluster and show.
In other lands, to get more support,
He looked for other monsters to court.
Urged on by callous and heartless trolls
Who helped him achieve his nefarious goals,
The monster displayed an ego that grew
Taller than buildings on Fifth Avenue.

Where were the heroes who were not afraid
To challenge the monster and come to our aid?
Where were the champions, so brave and so deft,
To fight him from both his right and his left?
The MAGA-monster wielded his power
To make all the people around him cower.
A nation once full of hope and freedom
Had turned into an all-about-me-dom.
The selfish, contemptible, carrot-topped,
And cruel monster had to be stopped.

(End of Part 1)

-by Bob B (11-19-24)

MAGA - Make Americans Grovel Absolutely

Oftentimes I wonder how life
Would be if a single event from the past
Had been different or hadn't occurred.
My whole life would have been recast.

All that's happened--right or wrong,
Wanted or not, good or bad,
Planned and expected or coincidental,
High or low, happy or sad--

Would be different. But would life be
Better or worse? If either, how so?
I can speculate all I want,
But that is something I'll never know.

Whether I take the road less traveled
Or whether I follow the beaten path,
Decisions I make are sometimes fruitful;
When not, I deal with the aftermath.

If certain causes and conditions,
Whether they were big or small,
Had been even slightly different,
I might not be here at all.

All it takes is a butterfly
In the Amazons to flap its wings,
And that--some people say--will have
An effect on countless other things.

Go to the beach and walk away
With just one grain of sand. No more.
Although it's imperceptible,
The shore now is a different shore.

Everything is interconnected
In ways too subtle to understand--
From giant, spinning galaxies
To the tiniest grain of sand.

-by Bob B (12-12-21)

What has happened before our eyes
Hasn't been a big surprise,
But puzzle pieces--bit by bit--
Have come together, and how they fit!

Eight broadcast hearings and we
Can see Trump's culpability
When violent thugs decided to storm
The Capitol--so true to form.

Trump didn't care that some were armed,
For he wasn't worried that he'd be harmed.
He riled up the mob that winter day
And sent it on its merry way

To the Capitol. Yes, even a noose
Was hung there as all hell broke loose.
Trump was watching the violent scene
On his giant TV screen.

For OVER THREE HOURS, the big man child
Let the violent mob run wild
While he did nothing--zero, zip--
To call it off. That's leadership?

Lives were threatened; lives were lost.
Damage was done; lines were crossed.
People pleaded, and yet it's known
That Trump just tweeted and talked on his phone.

In fact, as flames of violence grew higher,
He kept throwing fuel on the fire,
For he continued to incense
The mob, further endangering Pence.

And yet Trump seeks absolution
For thumbing his nose at the Constitution?
He should have to pay--amen!--
And NEVER hold an office again.

-by Bob B (7-22-22)

During a recent interview,
Donald Trump presented a slice
Of what he would do in a second term.
Before, he said, he was far too nice.

Nice? My goodness! If that's what he calls
Being nice, then when he's mean
He will be a thousand times
More obnoxious and more obscene!

He says he'll use the military
To round up millions for deportation,
As though hard-working immigrants
Are a serious threat to our nation!

Funds appropriated by Congress--
He says---he will refuse to release.
The functions of the office that studies
Possible future pandemics will cease.

Our independent judiciary
Soon will be a thing of the past,
For Trump will control the DOJ.
Its role under him will be recast.

States will be able to monitor
Pregnancies, he says; what's more,
The number of prosecutions of those
Defying abortion bans will soar.

He will deploy the national guard
To any place that he sees fit.
His staff will have to back the Big Lie;
Good riddance to those who challenge it.

He plans to gut the civil service.
Loyalty and THAT alone
Will be what he demands of all--
The image for all to bow down to: his own.

On hearing Trump's alarming words,
It's really hard to comprehend
That if you love democracy,
How your hair would NOT stand on end.

-by Bob B (5-2-24)

It certainly will not spell your doom
If you can't decide when to use "whom."
I always stay calm and never lose it
When folks aren't sure about how to use it.

I will attempt--for the duration--
To avoid a grammatical explanation.°
That will be hard--I must admit--
And if it gets too tricky, I'll quit.

"To whom it may concern" is easy
(Although to some the phrase sounds cheesy.)
Substitute "him"°° for "whom" and see
That "whom" is correct; we DON'T say "to he."

"He is a person who I believe
Will never, ever get a reprieve."
"Whom" here wouldn't fit the bill
Because the word "who" is the subject of "will."

"Whom did you see at the park today?"
If "I saw him" is the answer, okay,
Then "whom" is good, even though you
And others might STILL prefer to use "who."

“For whom did you bake the bread?” I ask.
“For him,” you answer. Easy task?
So, in that sentence, “whom” toes the line.
And if you make “for” the last word, fine.

“Who do you think deserves to win?”
"Whom" would be a problem therein,
For "who" must go with the verb "deserves."
A little knowledge can calm your nerves.

But how about "Whom did you see at the gym?"
If the answer is "I saw him,"
Then "whom" it is. But if you're confused,
Know that "who" is more often used.

"The guy whom I saw at the meeting last week
Spoke English, German, French, and Greek."
"I saw HIM at the meeting…" Voilà!
So "whom" works there. Got it? Hurrah!

Once you’ve got it, your next endeavor
Will be practicing who- and whomever.
It's up to you, but I'll say directly,
If we use "whom," let's use it correctly.

-by Bob B (7-24-22)

°I could talk about subjective and objective pronouns, but I'll leave that for later.
°°Of course, we could use "she/her" to test the pronouns, but "he/him" works well because of the final "m."

In a small village lived a man
Who no longer had a wife.
The only son that he had was now
The pride and joy of his life.'

While the man was away one day,
Some plunderers came into town.
They ransacked the homes, kidnapped the boy,
And burned the houses down.

When the man arrived back home,
He found among the rubble
A charred body. Assuming it was
His son's, he took the trouble

To have the body cremated, and then
He put the remains of the lad
Into a bag that he carried with him
Wherever he went. Poor dad!

After the man had rebuilt his house
With a memorial dome,
The son escaped from the plunderers
And found his way back home.

Hearing a knock on the door, the father
Wondered, "Who could it be?"
The son continued knocking and said,
"Father, it is me!"

"Go away!" the father said.
"Leave me in peace!" he cried.
"I won't open the door to an
Imposter. My son died!"

Frantically, the son continued
To pound upon the door.
He finally walked away in sadness.
Ah, the grief they bore!

The years passed by. The son would wonder
Every now and then,
"Should I return?" but sadly he
Never went back again.

When people are so attached to false
Ideas that they embrace,
They hide from the truth, even if
It stares them in the face.

-by Bob B (7-14-23)

°An old Buddhist parable

(This poem can be sung to the tune of "There's No Business like Show Business" by Irving Berlin.)

Let's GO ridin' with JOE Biden
'Cause JOE Biden's a pro.
Four years of the Trumps have been appalling,
Full of scandals, chaos, and despair.
I am sick and tired of Trump's stonewalling.
A second term would be too much to bear.

And SO sidin' with JOE Biden
Means YOU already know:
If we want a president who knows the score,
Who knows what the rule of law is for--
The kind of guy who has us coming back for more--
Then let's all vote for Joe!

The nonsense, the bluster, corruption, false claims,
The cover-ups that cover up their crimes,
Betrayals, deception, abuses, the games,
The lack of guidance in these worst of times…
The Trumplicans keep trying to suppress
The voters and have made an awful mess.

We KNOW sidin' with JOE Biden
Will END four years of woe.
Biden really knows the Constitution
And wouldn't use the White House as a prop.
The Biden/Harris ticket's the solution
If you want the nonsense all to stop.

And SO stick it to TRUMP'S ticket;
With JOE'S ticket you'll know
You will find a president who hates deceit,
Who has compassion and does not cheat,
And who won't sit around and watch Fox News and tweet,
So let's all vote for Joe;
So let's all vote for Joe!

-by Bob B (8-29-20)

Distractions! Distractions! Trump LOVES to distract us,
And while he is doing it, he MAKES his own rules.
Whether it's Panama, Greenland, or Canada,
He keeps on rambling and thinks we are fools.

His LACK of coherence, his constant annoying
And petty retaliatory remarks
Are really quite worrisome. Watch how he caters
To all of his cronies and rich oligarchs.

To serve as his hatchet man, Trump has appointed
His billionaire buddy, and he by and large
Should take all the heat, but when questioned the liar
Says, No, Elon Musk really ISN'T in charge.

Constantly signing executive orders
That limit our rights and display his disdain
For truth and democracy, Trump doesn't care about
Those who are suffering. Look at Ukraine!

So while he's distracting us, Cabinet members
And others are tearing this country apart.
This is so obvious: he's Putin's puppet
And Putin is someone he'll never outsmart.

Medical research and Social Security:
Two of our programs now under attack.
And overseas aid and our trusty post office…
So many cuts that it's hard to keep track!

There are Trump voters who say they are shocked about
All of the damage that he has been doing.
But if they had only been paying attention,
They would have noticed that it had been brewing.

It is incumbent on all concerned people
To keep a clear focus and not take Trump's bait.
Despite what he says to us, he is most certainly
Hurting this country and WON'T make it great.

May all the protests increase their momentum.
May voices of protestors let it be known
That WE won't put up with the Trump-regime carnage.
The king of lies MUST be removed from his throne.

-by Bob B (3-25-25)

He longs to rewrite history--
For us to see the world through his eyes,
With help from his favorite TV station,
Which scandalously spreads his lies.

He'd love to control the media,
Eliminating the critics who
Point out his flaws. Watch him try
To shoot one on Fifth Avenue.

He caters to his oligarchs--
To those who use their power and wealth
To fill their pockets and gain control,
Often through fraudulence and stealth.

He uses kowtowing appointees to help
Create dirt on his critics to draw
As ugly a picture as he can
And violates the rule of law.

When we have a national
Emergency, and things look dim,
He does his best to cover up
The truth and makes it all about him.

He even wants political
Opponents to be locked away.
Yep, Trump is acting more
Like Vladimir Putin every day.

-by Bob B (5-15-20)

A second term of Donald Trump
Would be a nightmare, to say the least.
Here are potential team members
Now that he's unleashed the beast:

Stephen Miller

A policy adviser to Trump…
Crafted border separation…
A white nationalist at heart…
Massive voter fraud his fixation…

RFK Jr.

Blamed Bill Gates for tracking chips…
Bioweapons from DNA?...
Vaccine conspiracy theorist…
Total nutjob! What more can I say?

Kash Patel

Trump loyalist par excellence…
Foot soldier for Donald Trump…
Threatens revenge against Trump's critics…
Trump commands, Patel will jump!

Russell Vought

Architect of the terrifying
Project 2025…
Withheld aid from Ukraine…
Keeps MAGA nonsense alive…

Founder of think tanks for Donald Trump…
Is fine with Christian nationalism
And presidential power over
The courts…. That's called despotism.

Richard Grenell

Part of the "Stop the Steal" effort…
Super MAGA through and through…
Wants government offices
Filled with MAGA loyalists, too…

Flirted while in Germany
With the ascendant German far right…
Looks for authoritarian leaders
With whom Trump can closely unite…

Steve Bannon

Believes you completely destroy opponents…
Strongly in favor of mass deportations…
Our institutions must be destroyed:
Another one of his recommendations…

Vivek Ramaswamy

Believes the "Great Replacement" conspiracy
And other crazy theories as well…
A son of immigrants, he also pushes
Nativist bigotry. What the hell?

Jeffrey Clark

Thinks the president should have
Power over prosecutions…
Election-related racketeering:
One more of his contributions…

__

This is only a partial list
Of dangerous people lining up
To bow down to Donald Trump,
Kiss his ring, and drink from his cup.

-by Bob B (10-10-24)

If I were a woman, my
Reproductive rights should be
MY business alone, not YOURS.
YOU are not my referee.

If I became pregnant through ****,
My voice would be loud and firm:
It’s up to me if what is growing
Inside me should be carried to term.

I would not listen to hypocritical
Views about protecting life
From those whose words of shame and blame
Ignore my feelings and cut like a knife.

I would not listen to people who
Ignore what should be a woman's right.
And yet to secure this right, women
Always seem to be having to fight.

I would seek out expert advice
And weigh the options to do what's best.
I know it wouldn't be an easy
Decision. To that I would attest.

No, I'm not a woman, you see.
My name certainly gives me away.
But still I try to listen to
What many women have to say:

"You have the right to express your displeasure.
Yes, that would be fair and fine.
But I'll stay out of YOUR insides,
And you, in turn, stay out of MINE."

-by Bob B (5-4-22)

It’s a female’s world.
Well, for emus it is.
Once her egg's been laid,
The rest of the work is HIS.
Her mate, who's already built
Their nest, sits on the eggs
And barely even gets to
Rise to stretch his legs.
He doesn't even drink,
Eat, or leave the nest.
His only nourishment
Is morning dew at best.
Meanwhile, the female
Doesn't hesitate
To say good-bye to her beau
And look for another mate.
After the eggs have hatched,
The male takes care of the chicks
By teaching them how to perform
The usual emu tricks,
Such as how to eat
And how to socialize
With all the other little
Emu girls and guys.
Soon the process will start
All over again.
I wonder if he envies
The life of an emu hen.

-by Bob B (10-14-21)

I like to think that I eat well.
But eating well to me doesn't mean
That I intend to completely remove
Sugar from my daily routine.

I know that protein and grains and fruits
And veggies are vital; I like them a lot.
But sometimes a hunk of chicken or steak
Or a carrot doesn't hit the spot.

We are what we eat, people say.
I am not saying that I am a ****,
But I would rather be seen as a cream puff
Than seen as a chicken, a cow, or a pig.

"Moderation" sounds judicious,
Though it's a word that's hard to define.
Your idea of moderation
Might be completely different from mine.

If somebody said, "Add ten years
To your life by avoiding sugary treats,"
With no hesitation, I would reply,
"YOU take the years; I'LL take the sweets."

-by Bob B (11-24-19)

Empty shelves. Lack of supplies.
Fighting a virus that's unforgiving.
School closures. Loss of jobs.
A new reality in which we're living.

Hospitals filling. Medical staff
In danger from lack of protective gear.
Stores and industries shutting down.
For how long remains unclear.

Closed borders. Cancelled flights.
Social distancing's a must.
Living in a dystopian novel,
We hear the command: Adjust! Adjust!

Where is our federal leadership?
Scrambling for sure, but this is worth noting:
The president's spreading misinformation
And keeps applying a sugar coating.

We need help! our governors say;
We're limited, but doing what we can.
The president says, "We are not
A supply shop." Compassionate man!

When asked pertinent questions about
Allaying the public's fears or stress,
Our insecure president
Loses control and attacks the press.

For months we knew of the imminent threat,
And yet where was the preparation?
The jaw-dropping inactivity
Of our leadership endangers our nation.

Our ICU surge capacity
Must be increased, experts insist.
And personal protective equipment
Should be at the top of the list.

Unfortunately, the president's
Narcissism gets in his way.
We DON'T need empty promises;
We need action. Now! Today!

We'll get through this eventually.
Because of him? NO! In SPITE of him
Who leads us down the rabbit hole
And governs by a hunch and a whim.

-by Bob B (3-21-20)

It's going to be a quiet Thanksgiving.
But that's all right--that's okay.
Caution now means better chances
Of seeing a future Thanksgiving Day.

Yes, it's sad that COVID-19
Happens to be our current reality.
But hopefully within a year,
We will see a return to normality.

Now with COVID numbers rising
And hospitals filling, it's getting scary.
To get the pandemic under control,
A bit of prudence is necessary.

There can still be turkey roasting,
Gravy simmering, potatoes boiling,
And homemade pumpkin pie beckoning…
And I'll be in the kitchen toiling.

The situation's not ideal,
But we'll get through this; we'll make do,
FaceTiming our family
And having Thanksgiving dinner for two.

-by Bob B (11-22-20)

Lately some sources reveal
A Zuckerberg/Trump shifty deal,
Which changed the complexion
Of last year's election--
The one that Trump's trying to steal.

Donny felt that indeed
There was really no need
To fact-check his scads
Of political ads,
And sources say Markie agreed.

Afterwards what did we learn
That Facebook got in return?
No applications
Of tough regulations--
A deal that's not easy to spurn.

Zuckerberg says it's not true.
That's something he never would do.
So where does that leave us?
If people deceive us,
They'll NEVER admit it. Would you?

-by Bob B (9-23-21)

The Great Cover-up. That's what it was.
The trial in the Senate--a sham.
The Trumplicans want the process behind them.
Water over the dam.

Witnesses were not allowed
To testify, which meant
That many of us were disappointed
With how the process went.

Whatever the outcome would have been,
The truth was highly suppressed.
That's what happens when evidence
And facts are not addressed.

Praise to Romney, the only Republican
Senator who admitted
That Trump at least on one of the charges
Should NOT have been acquitted.

The other Republican Senators
Chose absolution.
They backed their cultish leader instead of
Defending the Constitution.

Good-bye, rule of law. Good-bye,
Democratic protections,
For Trump's been given carte blanche to
Corrupt future elections.

-by Bob B (2-6-20)

Ongoing instability
Continues in the Middle East.
All who long for peace can't wait
Until this brutal conflict has ceased.

We know it started long ago--
Disputes over territory.
We can also see that there
Are TWO sides to this sad story.

Israelis versus Palestinians:
We've watched back-and-forth retribution.
Why must it be so difficult
For there to be a two-state solution?

Why does it have to be so hard
For the world to pressure both sides to meet
To iron out a workable plan
So neither side must admit defeat?

We're saddened by the loss of lives
And feel a sense of deep frustration.
But there is a feeling of optimism
Expressed in the following quotation:

"From the seeds of hope, the tree
Of peace will grow…."° If THAT'S fulfilled,
The tree will shelter both sides AND
No more blood will have to be spilled.

I treasure such optimistic words
But feel as though I want to shout,
"Israelis and Palestinians,
Together work this **** thing out!"

-by Bob B (5-4-24)

°Quote by Nadeem Ahmed

Sing, Democracy! Sing your song!
Let your voice be loud and clear.
Resist the onslaught of vicious attacks
On all the values that you hold dear.

Sing, Democracy! Let the sound
Of freedom muffle the sounds of suppression.
Do not cower when threatened by
Corrupt abuse of power and aggression.

Sing, Democracy! Do not let
Extremists stifle your beautiful voice.
When your music overpowers
The sounds of tyranny, rejoice!

Sing, Democracy, louder yet
When voices of ignorance try to subdue
Your song of hope for humanity,
For you know what is honest and true.

Sing, Democracy! Everywhere,
Let truth, honor, and freedom thrive.
But always know that you must be
Vigilant if you want to survive.

Sing, Democracy, lest your voice
Be stifled forever, and all you've known
About the value of freedom and justice
Turns to a whimper and dies with a moan.

-by Bob B (12-18-19)

The account that follows fills me with sadness--
Sadness and anger at the same time.
Oftentimes a draconian law
Can itself be a crime.

A mother, Amber Nicole Thurman,
Because of Georgia's abortion "solution,"
Died because her doctors wouldn't
Treat her, fearing prosecution.

Unexpelled fetal tissue
Required attention--a D&C.°
Thurman had developed sepsis.
They had to move ASAP.

But because of Georgia's laws,
The doctors, afraid of going to jail,
Waited far too long to act.
Thurman's organs had started to fail.

When the doctors finally
Performed the procedure, it was too late,
Thanks to the strict and narrow-minded
Laws affecting the folks in that state.

Governor Kemp was thrilled when the state's
Abortion ban went into effect.
What other anti-freedom laws
Will Georgia try to resurrect?

Whether to end a pregnancy
Is not an easy decision, but still,
Women should have the right to decide
If it should be by procedure or pill.

Applying loaded words such as "******"
To women and doctors is simply wrong!
Some lawmakers want us to think
That we are weak, but they are strong.

In their attempts to limit women's
Choice, they think that they have won,
While Amber Thurman leaves behind
A six-year-old motherless son.

-by Bob B (9-18-24)

°dilation and curettage, a surgical procedure that involves removing tissue from the ******

Attorney General Jeff Sessions
Continues to open wide the door
To bigotry and narrow-minded
Repression in his holy war.

Current plans: a task force,
One that is religious, in fact,
Within the US government--
A holy crusade to be exact.

Sessions feels that Christians are victims
In the separation of church and state.
Protecting their so-called religious liberty
Will give them the right to discriminate.

In countries where both religion
And government go hand in hand,
Injustice reigns, thoughts are controlled,
Rights are suppressed, books are banned.

We are seeing church and state
Dangerously intertwined,
Which goes against the kind of country
Our founding fathers had in mind.

What's happened to America--
The land of the free and the home of the brave?
Thomas Jefferson has to be
Turning over in his grave.

-by Bob B (8-2-18)

"Why did Mommie have to die?"
Asks a child? The answer, in short,
Is because of a lousy decision
Made by the country's highest court.

Since the 2022
Overturning of Roe v. Wade,
The Court has caused chaos and panic,
For women and doctors are afraid.

Not in every state, however--
Only in states that have curtailed
Women's rights. And still we see
New restrictions being unveiled.

When doctors are even afraid to treat
Miscarriages for fear
That they'll be prosecuted, well,
We have a real problem here.

Lack of prompt and urgent attention,
Can lead to sepsis, and women have died.
Many women refuse to seek help
For fear of being vilified.

The huge uncertainty about
Reproductive access has led
Some women who wanted children
To choose sterilization instead.

A number of states with very strict
Abortion bans have made provisions
For exceptions; fear, however,
Of criminal charges affects decisions.

Some women are willing to travel
To other states for medical care.
Other women cannot afford it,
Or they are scared and do not dare.

There's TOO much confusion and misinformation.
Many women seek out a bit
Of help on Reddit and TikTok, but
Do we know if the info's legit?

Here's an idea: if WE know that
An aborted fetus can live on its own,
Then "pro-lifers" can raise the child
And leave the mothers and doctors alone!

-by Bob B (10-17-24)

The long war in Afghanistan…
Now, when all is said and done,
What started out as a war with a cause,
Turned out being a losing one.

The longest war in U.S. history…
Did we ever have clear goals?
Explanations for why we stayed there
For twenty years are full of holes.

At first, going after al-Qaeda
And Bin Laden was our claim.
Eventually, it turned out that
Nation-building became our aim.

Propping up the Karzai regime…
To some that was a colossal flop.
We organized from top to bottom
Instead of going from bottom to top.

A government, unstable, corrupt,
In a country full of feuding tribes…
Democracy to the Afghans became
A system mainly built on bribes.

We thought we had made headway there,
But then we encountered a stumbling block:
Our focus shifted when we were misled
To get involved in a war in Iraq.

We tried to fight the ***** trade--
Another problem we tried to master.
Unfortunately, it turned out that
Our efforts were a complete disaster.

Others with whom we negotiated,
Sometimes took us for a ride,
Leaving us without an inkling
As to who was on whose side.

Warlords who we know had committed
Atrocities, became our friends.
Scenarios where that plays out
Usually have disastrous ends.

A dark pit of endless money
That led the way to grift and greed…
We were bent on building projects
That the Afghans didn't need.

When we bombed a wedding party
And a hospital, let it be noted
That those in command hid our blunders.
The truth was often sugar-coated.

"We are NOT nation-building,"
And "Victory is in sight," we heard.
One thing we should know by now
Is we can't hang on their every word.

We lament the lives that were lost
And all who were wounded during the war.
We also lament the loss of trust
In our leaders. That will be hard to restore.

-by Bob B (1-21-22)

How you shine your light on the world,
Your energy and self-expression,
Your sense of purpose, your urge to create,
Your individual, lasting impression,

Your essential values, the way
You try to relate to everyone,
How you cope, and how you see life--
That's all symbolized by your SUN.

The image that you have of yourself,
Your subconscious predispositions,
How you fulfill emotional needs,
How you respond to certain conditions,

Your sense of belonging, how you like
The feelings of being inside your cocoon,
Your longing for security…
That's all symbolized by your MOON.

Communication, your conscious mind,
Your logic, your reason, and how you think,
How you establish connections with others
With whom you want to remain in sync,

The manner in which you express your perceptions,
Your intellectual give and take
Are symbolized by your MERCURY,
Which loves learning for its own sake.

Your need to establish relationships,
Your sharing, your giving and your receiving,
Your values, your tastes, your urge for pleasure,
Your knowledge that harmony's worth achieving,

Your sense of collaboration, your need
For comfort with all that it emphasizes,
Your strong desire to protect those you love--
That's what your VENUS symbolizes.

What about your will-power,
Your strong initiative and drive,
Your self-assertion, your energy,
The power that makes you feel alive,

Your sense of individualism,
Your urge to reach beyond the stars,
Your action, impatience, and petulance, too?
That's all symbolized by your MARS.

When you want to expand your horizons,
When limitations would be a horror,
When you have an urgent need
To improve yourself and be an explorer,

When connecting with something else
That's greater than you can make your day,
When you are hopeful and optimistic,
Your JUPITER is having a say.

Is there a need for social approval,
For discipline and organization?
Are you a little fearful of change
And seek to establish a solid foundation?

Do rules and boundaries give you peace?
Do you find virtue in follow-through?
Can you be a bit rigid at times?
If so, then SATURN is working through you.

Perhaps you're feeling slightly eccentric,
A bit detached, in need of a change.
Maybe you're being a non-conformist,
And others find you a little bit strange.

Are you feeling rebellious and willful
And wanting to break with the status quo?
Are you impulsive, intense, or restless?
Then your URANUS has you in tow.

If you're a dreamer who's somewhat elusive,
Compassionate, and idealistic,
Who wants to be free from your ego-self
And tap into a life that's artistic,

And if you have the urge to assist
Those who suffer from exclusion,
Let your NEPTUNE energy flow.
Just watch out for escapist delusion.

Perhaps you want to penetrate
The psychological depths of being
And also feel a transformation
Of consciousness--a new way of seeing;

Maybe you want to analyze life,
Let go of the old, question taboos,
Explore compulsions, and try to transmute them
Into new form. Then PLUTO's your muse.

By tapping into the energies
That flow through us and make us whole,
We can grow from our self-knowledge
And self-exploration--a wonderful goal.

-by Bob B (2-23-22)

Being nasty can rile your critics,
Stir up your fans, and incite your base.
That nastiness can leave an ugly
Mark that's difficult to erase.

Being narcissistic might make
Your fans think you have inner strength,
Though others can see how catty and petty
You are when rambling on at length.

Saying you're a nationalist
Might make you think you sound patriotic,
Although you embolden neo-Nazis
And others who find your words hypnotic.

Dehumanizing people
Is cruel and has a disastrous effect.
It shows your carelessness, your lack
Of sympathy, and lack of respect.

Calling asylum seekers "invaders,"
Enemies who are infesting our land,
Spreads a political fiction--a hoax--
That dangerously gets out of hand.

Perverse culprits devour your words.
Unstable extremists can hear
A message no matter how you meant it,
Thinking you've put a bug in their ear.

Then the killers--equipped to the max
With all the deadly weapons they need--
Go on a violent shooting spree:
Death and injury guaranteed.

Rhetoric has consequences.
Words really matter a lot.
Violence breeds violence
When hatred is so carefully taught.

-by Bob B (10-30-18)

As Putin continues his ****** quest
To ravage Ukraine, we watch in shock
As innocent Ukrainian
Civilians are dying around the clock.

We have to constantly ask ourselves,
"Is all of this dying worth it to him?"
If this is part of his ongoing push
To expand his rule, the future looks grim.

Announcing phony accusations
Before the UN is part of his plan
To craftily legitimize
His propaganda as much as he can.

Of course, conspiracy theorists here
Are siding with Putin--our adversary.
Fox News Channel's Tucker Carlson
Spouts pro-Putin commentary.

It's almost as though Carlson has
A means of direct communication
With Putin, whereby the two of them
Can further their mutual adulation.

And so they continue to throw spaghetti
Against the wall to see what sticks.
Watch the results as the two of them
Keep throwing lies into the mix.

As both Putin and Carlson peddle
Disinformation, people are dying.
How anyone can justify
Such senseless bloodshed is mystifying.

-by Bob b (3-13-22)

The MAGA-monster reared his head
To see how far his venom would spread.
"How dare they defy me!" he loudly exclaimed.
His hatred and anger could never be tamed.
Whether he told the truth or lied,
Whatever he said could not be defied.
If you chose to disagree,
His enemy was what you would be.
Loyalty was a major concern;
Those who withheld it were those he would spurn.

"I will show 'em!" he loudly roared.
His face turned orange as he brandished his sword.
His sycophantic subjects drew near,
Obsequiously kowtowing in fear.
He didn't care if someone should suffer.
His other concern: to take care of his fluffer--
One of the slimiest toadies around,
Who made the country his new battleground.
The two of them, salaciously smiling,
Had looks on their faces, oddly beguiling.

The monster's coffers were filled to the brim.
EVERYTHING was all about HIM.
He gave the semblance of caring, but no,
His woeful act was all bluster and show.
In other lands, to get more support,
He looked for other monsters to court.
Urged on by callous and heartless trolls
Who helped him achieve his nefarious goals,
The monster displayed an ego that grew
Taller than buildings on Fifth Avenue.

Where were the heroes who were not afraid
To challenge the monster and come to our aid?
Where were the champions, so brave and so deft,
To fight him from both his right and his left?
The MAGA-monster wielded his power
To make all the people around him cower.
A nation once full of hope and freedom
Had turned into an all-about-me-dom.
The selfish, contemptible, carrot-topped,
And cruel monster had to be stopped.

(End of Part 1)

-by Bob B (11-19-24)

Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson,
Now compares himself to Moses.
It's rather disconcerting what
His total self-aggrandizement shows us.

It's what he told Christian lawmakers.
Now he's waiting to cross the Red Sea.
How arrogant and delusional
Can a politician be?

Strangely, he said that God had spoken
To him when he was down on his knees.
He might as well have compared himself
With Paul Bunyan or Hercules.

It makes one wonder whether Johnson
Has been a bit too much on the sauce.
Will his ego grow so large
That he will nail himself to a cross?

Let him raise his rod and try
To part the waters. Wish him luck.
To tell the truth, Johnson seems
Less like a Moses and more like a schmuck.

-by Bob B (12-7-23)

What is this world coming to?
Sometimes I can't believe my ears.
When it comes to ludicrousness,
We are encountering new frontiers.

Mike Johnson° has told us that
Republicans value the rule of law.
However, for a very strange reason,
Their grasp of it has a major flaw:

The rule of law is important to them
When they can use it on others, you see.
But if the law is directed at them,
They want complete immunity.

Johnson has placed two House members,
Ronny Jackson°° and Scott Perry,°°°
On the Intelligence Committee.
Now try to tell me THAT'S not scary.

Demoted from admiral to captain,
Jackson has proved to be a skunk:
One, for mistreating his staff members,
And two, for treating patients while drunk.

Perry's appointment is more bizarre,
For he had had a strong connection
With plots to ignore election results
And with the Capitol insurrection.

That Johnson has placed these two men
On the committee has to defy
Reason, for now they will be
Overseeing the FBI!

A Black House member, Byron Donalds,°°°°
With his MAGA fiction in tow,
Said that Blacks were much better off
During the Jim Crow era! Whoa!

And one more thing: Trump says since
He's been accused of "alleged" crimes,
Because he's a victim, Blacks love him,
For they have suffered through difficult times.

My goodness! What is going on?
With all this crazy nonsense transpiring,
It appears that in these Republicans,
Synapses in their brains are misfiring.

-by Bob B (6-7-24)

°Current Speaker of the House
°°Republican representative from Texas
°°°Republican representative from Pennsylvania
°°°°Republican representative from Florida

While you're being investigated,
If "witch hunt" is often repeated,
Your eager-to-please fan base will say,
"Oh, poor guy. He's being mistreated!"

Maintain the false allegation
That during your election campaign
The FBI "spied" on you.
America's loss will be your gain.

Spread distrust of our institutions.
Just repeat lie after lie,
And fans will scarf it down as though
It's honey falling from the sky.

Although a foreign country assisted
Your campaign, cause confusion
By fervently repeating the words
"No collusion. No collusion."

Conspire with any members of Congress
Willing to sell their souls to the devil.
Your shared obstruction of justice will give you
Success in which you later can revel.

Discredit the media and call them fake
When you dislike what they're relaying
So people in your echo chamber
Won't believe what reporters are saying.

Say that the truth is relative;
Raise doubt in what's true and real.
Do whatever it takes to cover up
Everything that you want to conceal.

It's so easy to muddy the waters.
Getting ratings: that is the key.
Generate conspiracy theories.
Create your own reality.

-by Bob B (5-29-18)

Back in January this year
Sergeant Kennedy Sanders was killed.
Today, for all her dear loved ones,
The hole in their hearts remains unfilled.

Assigned to a military outpost
In Jordan, she and her team became
Targets of a drone attack.
Islamic terrorists were to blame.

Operation Inherent Resolve
Was a mission to combat hate--
The hate that's being perpetuated
By groups such as the Islamic State.

Rebuilding infrastructure was
Why the engineers were there.
The threat of danger was always something
For which the soldiers had to prepare.

Just one day prior to
The day that Kennedy met her end,
She and her mom had talked about
The kinds of Girl Scout cookies to send.

How sad! Because of fanaticism,
Countless innocent people have died.
Religious extremism proves to be
A giant thorn in humanity's side.

Unfortunately, the suffering
Is NOT just caused by militant groups.
Sometimes fanatic leaders cause grief
Through bombing raids and sending out troops.

Kennedy's friends and family
Will sadly but proudly make their way
To Kennedy's grave where they will leave
Flowers on this Memorial Day.

-by Bob B (5-27-24)

(This poem can be sung to the tune of the 1922 song "Toot…Toot…Tootsie, Good-bye.")

Tucker,° can't you say when?
You have done it again.
What IS your fascination
With someone who's a real threat to our free nation?
Giving Putin free rein
Is nothing short of insane!
How could you not
Be overwrought
When you let the Russian tyrant bolster his plot?
Therefore, fingers are crossed
That you'll somehow get lost!

Letting Putin spread lies,
Tucker, isn't so wise.
You, of course, are guilty of that,
And when you do you cater to the autocrat.
You think Moscow's so nice.
So, I won't tell you twice.
Surely you could
Do what you should:
Pack your bags, get on a plane, and move there for good.
When your jet's in the sky,
Tucker, we’ll wave good-bye!

-by Bob B (2-14-24)

°Tucker Carlson: political talk show host fired from Fox News in 2023