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)

Many people wonder what
Trump can do to cause more woe.
Never ceasing to find a way,
The man has reached an all-time low.

He is still separating
Families that have been here for years--
Deporting parents and leaving their kids
To fend for themselves. Imagine their fears!

Crossing the line again, he's showing
How cruel and hateful his policies are,
For now the man is pushing one
That's more inhumane than others so far:

Non-citizens being treated
For life-threatening illnesses must
Leave the country in thirty-three days.
Trump thinks that's fair and just.

The Trump administration is saying,
"Sorry, but the time is nigh
For you to leave the United States."
In other words, "Go home and die!"

The White House **** Stephen Miller
Has to have his hand in this.
Whatever he can do to hurt
Immigrants gives him infinite bliss.

How sad it is when leaders are
Devoid of human compassion and heart!
Do we stand idly by and watch
The president tear the country apart?

-by Bob B (8-29-19)

We hear that Trump enjoys keeping
In touch with his ***** buddy,
Vladimir Putin; in fact, he could be
Putin's understudy.

Their commonalities are clear--
These two peas in a pod.
Cut from the same piece of cloth,
Both pretend to be God.

Both of them disdain opponents;
Both want total control;
Both of them are leading the people
Down a rabbit hole.

Putin will find a way to jail
Whomever he sees as a threat.
He's had a few of his critics killed;
Trump hasn't--at least not yet.

Birds of a feather flock together;
So the saying goes.
When it comes to gaslighting,
Putin and Trump are pros.

No one's surprised why Trump is for
Cutting off aid to Ukraine,
For HE knows very well that its
Loss is Putin's gain.

Why Putin meddles in our elections
Is obvious, for he
Wants his pal in the White House again--
Yes, his fellow pea.

Both of them have taken the art
Of lying to greater heights.
Both of them are not averse
To trampling on our rights.

Russia is stuck with Putin until
The tyrant meets his end.
But we have the choice at the ballot box
To stop Putin's friend.

-by Bob B (10-8-24)

This poetry site is so quirky.
Its value has gotten quite murky.
Whatever its goal,
It's out of control.
I'd say it's becoming a turkey.

It needs a skillful technician.
And frankly I have a suspicion
That no one's in charge,
Which by and large,
Explains its current condition.

-by Bob B (6-3-22)

Step right up, folks. You will see
That I have a product that's basically free.
The only cost--the only expense--
Is sacrificing your common sense.

Though SOME people give them a different name,
Conspiracy theories are my game.
They're quite easy to get behind
If you have a paranoid mind.

Misinformation can cause confusion
By relegating truth to the world of illusion
And make you think that wrong is right--
That white is black and black is white.

The more outrageous, the more far-fetched,
The more bizarrely the truth can be stretched,
The more my theories will gather force.
Yep, that's just a matter of course.

From PizzaGate to voter fraud,
Conspiracy theories--no matter how odd--
Will spread across the Internet,
Seeking out every space cadet.

Some of the craziest ones we've seen
Are focused on the spread of COVID-19.
The deep state myths are other ones;
Or the Dems are out to get your guns.

The president--one of my biggest fans--
Is such an asset to my plans.
As long as ignorance continues to grow,
My stories will continue to flow.

-by Bob B (7-29-20)

Musk is currently taking his chainsaw
To Social Security. Watch him cut!
We're on to you, Elon Musk!
You think the people don't know what's what?

Breaking a trusted agency
That serves the people: that's Trump's goal.
He has appointed Musk to be
The Terminator: that's Musk's role.

If they can wreck the agency,
Then they can rob it. Sorry, folks.
And all the talk of rampant fraud
Is nothing but a lie, a hoax.

They've been firing employees from
A system that is already stressed.
It's being tossed into the water
To sink or swim with no life vest.

With field office closings and no
Phone service, what do you do?
Musk is turning the system into
A troubling dilemma--a catch 22.

The Secretary of Commerce says
To stop the checks and see who complains!
Only the fraudsters will, he adds.
Does he think we have no brains?

Outraged is how we ALL should feel.
These are benefits people have earned
From payments made for many years,
And now the people are being burned.

Attend town halls! Demonstrate!
Speak or forever hold your peace!
Save Social Security!
The deadly attacks on the program must cease.

And by the way, if people are
Disgusted with Musk, that's no shock.
But if you have invested in Tesla,
You really ought to sell your stock.

-by Bob B (3-22-25)

As the House members turn up the dial
At the president's impeachment trial,
If you're keeping score,
You'll see more and more
That the GOP lives in denial.

How can a trial be legit
If Midnight Mitch will not permit
Key witnesses there?
He says, "I don't care.
Who needs a trial? Just acquit."

His reasoning's so hard to parse.
He basically says, "Kiss my ****."
There's SO much at stake,
But HE'S going to make
The trial in the Senate a farce.

-by Bob B (1-22-20)

DT sings to himself in the mirror:

I LOVE how folks bow down to me
And say my work's a job well done.
That's because so many can see
That Donald Trump is the Chosen One.

I alone can fix this land.
My work here has just barely begun.
When I have the upper hand,
I'll prove I am the Chosen One.

You'll get away with everything.
Stringing people along is fun.
And you can act as though you're king,
Or better than that: the Chosen One.

The Bible I have never read,
But bucks will flow in by the ton
When I sell it, for it's said
That I am really the Chosen One.

Christ and I are much alike--
Each a victim; each a son.
Opponents all can take a hike.
Best beware of the Chosen One.

I'm invincible 'cause I'm smart.
Are there folks who are brighter? None!
But still some want to tear me apart.
Look what they're doing to the Chosen One.

If I do not win this fall,
The election, I'll say, was badly run.
How could anyone have the gall
Not to vote for the Chosen One?

All the folks who criticize
What I do are those we'll shun.
I'll make it my enterprise
To market myself as the Chosen One.

With the Trump card, we will win.
Look at me: I made a pun!
I'm flawless, for I never sin--
Not when I'm the Chosen One.

Oh, my goodness, I'm so proud
Of all the tales that I have spun.
I know how to work a crowd,
Pretending I'm the Chosen One.

Me be scrupulous? No way!
You'll get farther if you're un-.
I don't care what critics say
Because I am the Chosen One!

-by Bob B (4-6-24)

Powerful grief can overwhelm us.
It doesn't merely make us feel blue.
At times it's more insidious,
For it is able to **** us, too.

Joe and Irma García had been
Married for twenty-four years until
A killer with an assault weapon had
A deadly mission to fulfill.

Nineteen elementary students
And two teachers were gunned down
Senselessly, brutally,
In what was a quiet Texan town.

Irma was one of the teachers killed.
Two days after his wife had been slain,
Joe dropped dead from a heart attack
Brought about by unbearable pain.

Their four kids are orphans now.
May we hold in our hearts today
The memory of Joe and Irma,
Who never should have died this way.

-by Bob B (5-29-22)

A hungry fox was walking along
And spied some very familiar shapes.
Deep in a garden he noticed a trellis
From which were hanging some bunches of grapes.

"I must have those grapes," he thought.
He took a giant leap but found
The fruit too high and so he landed
Empty-handed back on the ground.

"This is not a good thing at all.
Perseverance!" he said, but when
He leaped into the air for the fruit,
He landed empty-handed again.

"****!" he exclaimed. "Not to eat
Those luscious grapes would be a crime,"
And so the exasperated fox
Attempted to reach them one more time.

But, alas, once more he failed.
"Oh, well," he sighed. "Some other day.
Why did I waste my time? Those grapes
Were probably sour, anyway."

Of course, the fable has a moral:
Often we become upset
And criticize and denigrate
Whatever it is that we can't get.

Ah, but there's another lesson:
Why rush to grab the grapes on the vine
When we can wait a little longer
And then partake of some heavenly wine?

-by Bob B (8-25-21)

°An Aesop fable, "The Fox and the Grapes," retold here in verse

As the day was drawing to a close,
The late afternoon was turning cold.
A goatherd summoned all his goats together
In order to return them to the fold.

Suddenly, one goat chose to stray
And didn't want to join up with the rest.
The goatherd knew that if they didn't hurry,
They would not get home till dusk at best.

He shouted, but the goat ignored his orders.
Furious, he threw a heavy stone
And hit the goat, breaking one of its horns.
The goatherd then let out a fearful moan.

"Oh, no! I'm in trouble now!" he cried.
"For me, this is going to mean disaster."
Distraught, he begged the poor goat not to say
A word about his actions to their master.

"Don't be stupid," said the rebellious goat.
"My broken horn would stand out in the herd
As if to cry out, 'Hey there, look at me!'
Even if I didn't say a word.

"So here is some advice for you, my friend:
Hiding certain things is not forbidden,
But you will come off looking like a fool
If you try to hide what can't be hidden."

-by Bob B (8-13-21)

°An Aesop fable, "The Goatherd and the Goat," retold here in verse

Today I got
My booster shot.
I never had
A second thought.
Two shots first,
Then THIS makes three.
No, COVID's not for me.

Hi ** the derry o!
Vaccinations work and so
I've known since long ago:
Getting sick is not for me.

My booster shot
Protects me now.
The scientists
Should take a bow.
Viruses
Aren't fun, you see.
So, COVID's not for me.

You MIGHT not want
To get your shot.
It’s hard to un-
Derstand why not.
Experts say
That when we do,
It's best for me and you.

If only all
Would persevere
To help make CO-
VID disappear!
We’re in luck
For we have got
A safe, effective shot.

Yes, herd immunity:
We know what that's all about.
Let’s stand in unity.
Get your booster shot and shout,
"Hey!
I got my shot today!"

-by Bob B (10-25-21)

°This poem could be sung to the melody of the 1940 song "I’ve Got No Strings" by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for the Disney film PINOCCHIO. If you don’t know the song, check it out on YouTube. Knowing the melody helps with the rhythm of the poem.

(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.)

We see that Trump and his Republican
Friends are not averse
To funding cuts. Thus, they've become
Robin Hoods in reverse.

Robin Hood had a giant heart,
But this is quite a switch:
Republicans are robbing the poor
And helping out the rich!

Cutting healthcare and food assistance
Programs is their goal--
Something very unpopular
In almost every poll.

Some were holding out at first,
And, no, it wasn't a bluff.
They opposed the bill because
It didn't cut enough!

The bill also has a provision,
Which we know from reports
Takes away the contempt power
From our federal courts.

Is letting them take away our freedoms
Something we're okay with?
We must stop them from doing something
They shouldn't get away with.

Speak up! Protest! Raise your voice!
Watch Republicans gloat
As they take away our rights.
Remember that when you vote.

-by Bob B (5-22-25)

We saw from many Republicans
Their true colors yesterday
With their blind allegiance to
Donald Trump on full display.

While we paused to remember the horrors
Of January 6 last year,
We saw Republican lawmakers
Kowtowing to their puppeteer.

Aligned with white nationalists
And thugs, the Party's come to be
Unrecognizable
From the former GOP.

While members of Congress met to reflect
On what had happened a year ago,
Republicans--except for Liz Cheney--
Unsurprisingly failed to show.

Republicans in Missouri had
A fundraiser--one whereby
They celebrated the insurrection
And pushed Trump's election lie.

In interviews, two notorious
Trump sycophants mentioned their pride
In what the violent mobs had done.
Violence being sanctified?

Amplified by hostile foreign
Powers, many lies keep spreading.
With truth constantly under attack,
It's scary to think where the nation is heading.

How can lawmakers cater to Trump
And still maintain any self-respect?
Furthermore, without a backbone,
How can they even stand *****?

-by Bob B (1-7-22)

With Trump back in the White House, life
Gets more dangerous every day.
The safeguards that had been in place
Now are quickly slipping away.

Without U.S.A.I.D.,
Diseases in other countries will spread.
While Trump hits his golf ***** around,
We will all be counting the dead.

Viruses that were under control--
Such as measles--will be on the rise
As Trump's dubious medical "experts"
Stifle the truth and spread their lies.

The firing of CIA employees
And FBI employees as well
Endangers us as the agencies try
To function with limited personnel.

In the past, a security clearance
Involved a background check. No longer.
They're passed out as though they're candy.
Compliments of the powermonger.

Giving in to adversaries:
Another unprecedented matter.
Trump is handing over to Putin
Ukraine's head on a silver platter.

By weakening NATO, Trump is giving
Putin the chance to expand his "realm."
How can world peace survive
With such egomaniacs at the helm?

As the Republicans make cuts
To Medicaid, people will suffer.
If anyone is struggling now,
Just wait: things will get much tougher.

Cutbacks in programs for veterans
Endanger the lives of more of our vets.
But Trump and Musk don't give a ****.
They act without thinking and have no regrets.

As regulatory agencies
And authorities are no more,
Trump and his team of cut-throats are putting
More lives at risk than ever before!

Trump and attack dog Vance both show
The world how they are immature.
They think they're tough, but they are really
Cowardly, weak, and insecure.

How sad to have a president
Who is so willing to sell us out!
Is he going to destroy this country?
I have not a shred of doubt.

-by Bob B (3-1-25)

Donald Trump, convicted felon…
We know it's power for which he thirsts.
Craving attention, he's also managed
To earn for himself a number of firsts:

The first U.S. president
Impeached by the House, not once but twice!
(He always has to one-up himself.
For MOST presidents, just ONCE would suffice.)

The first former president
Tried and convicted on thirty-four counts!
(While ONE would be enough for most,
We know how much he loves AMOUNTS.)

The first convicted felon running
For the office of U.S. president!
(How many firsts can this man handle--
This New York/Florida resident?)

Our justice system is catching up
With Donald Trump, and it's about time.
For many years the man's been able
To get away with crime after crime.

But once again he'll play the martyr--
Especially now that he's been convicted--
Even though his constant troubles
And suffering are self-inflicted.

Thirty-four counts! But wait, for there
Are more indictments. Will there be
More convictions down the road?
We will have to wait and see.

-by Bob B (5-31-24)

My grandfather used to think
That reading wasn't doing.
Keeping busy with projects was
The path that's worth pursuing.

For him, reading was what he did
When all his work was done.
At that point he could sit and relax
And have a little fun.

I, however, feel that reading
And doing are one and the same.
I can read for hours and hours
And not feel an ounce of shame.

Reading exercises the brain
And is an active pursuit.
One could hope the activity
Would open the mind to boot.

True, sometimes I read too much--
Maybe more than I should--
And chores end up on the back burner.
That's not always good.

But I cannot imagine a world
Without reading and books.
And Grandfather's no longer around
To give me ***** looks.

-by Bob B (8-19-23)

"Hang" and "hang" are two different verbs--
One is strong; the other is weak.
You'll often notice that they are misused
When English speakers write and speak.

STRONG verbs are irregular verbs.
WEAK verbs are regular. So you'll find
That these are just two categories
To which all English verbs are assigned.

When we say, "We hung the painting
On the wall," the verb is strong.
But if we say, "They hung the bandit
At dawn," well, that is wrong.

"They hanged the bandit at dawn" is correct.
"Hang" there is weak. As you can see,
The past tense form of the weak verb "hang"
Ends in the letters E and D.

So does the participle as well:
"The murderous bandit was hanged at dawn."
Of course, the bandit wouldn't care
What verb we used once he was gone.

If you say, "The bandit was hung,"
You can say it if you dare,
But that implies something different,
And maybe we shouldn't be going there.

If you're unsure about "hung" and "hanged,"
Maybe do a grammar check.
"We hung the ornaments on the tree";
"The violent outlaw was hanged by the neck."

-by Bob B (10-3-21)

All day long a fisherman stood,
fishing in a river.
Although he was ambitious, he
Was failing to deliver.

He pulled in his net a final time,
Intending to walk away,
For he was rightfully weary, and it
Was time to call it a day.

"It's too bad," he sighed, trying
Not to be upset,
When all of a sudden he noticed a fish
Squirming about in his net.

The tiny fish pleaded and pleaded
With him to set it free.
"I am HARDLY worth the effort.
Wouldn't you agree?

"Throw me back into the river,
So I can grow for a spell.
When I've become a larger fish,
I could serve you well.

"Right now I am just a tiny,
Insignificant thing.
But later you could put me on
A platter fit for a king."

"What do you take me for--a fool?"
The fisherman replied.
"That you do not amount to much
Cannot be denied.

"How in the world could you expect
That I should release you when
Both YOU and I know that I would never,
Ever see you again?

"Why let go of a certainty,
For something uncertain? And so
You're going home with me, and into
The frying pan you'll go."

The moral? Once in a while because of
The situation you're in,
You must be creative if you
Want to save your skin.

Another moral isn't about
Trying to  save your ****.
It goes as follows: a bird in the hand
Is worth TWO in the bush.

-by Bob B (9-13-21)

°An Aesop fable retold here in verse

Compared to the age of the universe,
Our time on Earth is rather brief.
Still, the longer we live, the more
We'll walk hand and hand with grief.

Death knocks on the doors of others
And calmly ushers them away.
No matter how much a person resists,
Death will have its final say.

When losing family and friends,
It's hard to describe the pain we feel.
But when we consider our own demise,
The whole idea is oddly surreal.

The thought of suddenly being no more--
At least in our current ****** form--
Is totally foreign to us, for knowing
The world through our senses has been the norm.

Someday my favorite chair
Will no longer feel my rear.
The sound of my voice--my cries, my laughter--
Will not reach a single ear.

When I go, I’ll join the ranks
Of billions of other people who
Have died before me, which reminds me
That having to die is nothing new.

To let go and face the unknown,
Not to worry, not to fret…
We know that life is constant change--
That death is part of life--and yet….

-by Bob B (4-26-22)

Back a rat into a corner
And you will find without a doubt
That it becomes surprisingly vicious
As it angrily lashes out.

So if that is your plan of attack,
Heed the warning: be prepared!
Be sure you have the tools you need;
And, above all, don’t be scared.

The best thing to do would be
To stop the problems before they begin.
Be certain that your house is secure
So that no rats can find their way in.

Check the foundation; walk around
And fix whatever the structure lacks.
Don't let the vermin sneak inside
By making **** sure there aren't any cracks.

You can put your house in order.
Consider how much you will have gained.
But don't forget to be vigilant:
A dwelling has to be maintained.

A strong, secure house is the best
Protection against dangerous pests.
Then you can live in relative peace.
At least that is what wisdom suggests.

-by Bob B (11-9-20)

Lay your wreath, light your candles,
And think on all that’s good and say
“Never again!” as we reflect
On Holocaust Remembrance Day.

How can humans be so cruel?
A question we must ponder as we
Think of the millions who lost their lives
Because of gross inhumanity.

Sadly there are people who
Deny the truth of the Holocaust.
With cold and calloused hearts they refuse
To acknowledge the many lives that were lost.

If we ignore the enormity
Of all the crimes committed, then
How will we ever be sure that such
Atrocities won't happen again?

May all who perished rest in peace.
We must keep human hatred at bay.
In fact, every day should be
A Holocaust Remembrance Day.

-by Bob B (4-17-23)

It seems as though our friends on the Right
Are still eager to pursue
Policies that show that they want
To have their cake and eat it, too.

Take taxes, for example.
They want voters to buy their pitch
On how they're lowering taxes, but
The biggest tax breaks go to the rich.

Fighting vaccine and mask mandates,
They chatter on and will not drop it.
They want to get past COVID; however,
They aren't really trying to stop it.

They are seeing the damaging
Effects of extreme weather conditions,
But when we talk clean energy,
They don't budge from their positions.

Ironically, voter integrity
Is an idea that they promote,
And yet all across the country
They're working hard to suppress the vote.

They praise America's history
Of freedom and democracy,
And yet they kiss the ring of man
Who leans toward autocracy.

They cannot have it both ways.
Democratic values matter.
Between thuggish power and freedom,
Americans should choose the latter.

-by Bob B (10-19-21)

We now live in a dictatorship!
Make no bones about it; it's true.
We thought we had a democracy,
But Trump has pulled a switcheroo.

Look at what the man is doing.
What's happening is not an UN-
But ANTI-constitutional
Power grab--second to none.

In order for him to achieve his goal,
He has pulled out all the stops.
Notice how often he's in the news
With dictatorial photo ops.

We are facing a crisis here,
With civil liberties under attack.
Trump will make an unlawful decree,
And then his toadies will pick up the slack.

Defying the courts and criticizing
Federal judges, he has bent
The rule of law, which he will flout
And always try to circumvent.

His obsequious friends in Congress
Sit by and watch this disaster take place.
Some say they don't like what he's doing
But will not tell him so to his face!

People, do not let this happen!
Do not fall for the tricks and lies.
We are rapidly losing our freedoms.
If you can't see that, open your eyes.

-by Bob B (3-20-25)

The clown show in Arizona
Still hasn't come to a close.
When will the nonsense stop?
Well, good gracious! Who knows?

A group called the Cyber Ninjas
Is making a horrible mess.
How they could be so obnoxious
Is anybody's guess.

Trying to squeeze blood from a turnip,
They want to show everyone
That voter fraud ran rampant,
When most of us know there was none.

Among the crazy theories
That they have up the *****
Is that the ballots might show
Fragments of Chinese bamboo!

The crazy, preposterous theory
For which they have affection
Is how the Chinese attempted
To meddle in our election.

In states where Republicans won,
Republicans shout out, "Yippee!"
Where Democrats won, however,
The Right says, "No, that can't be."

Matthew Gaetz was joined
By Marjorie Taylor Greene,
The bully who's also known as
The wacko QAnon Queen.

The two showed up at a rally
To offer their support,
Showing how low they'd stoop--
To what they will resort.

Tampering with equipment
With actions so obtuse,
The "auditors" now have put
The voting machines out of use.

This all shows what can happen
When people get their high
Not by believing in reason,
But instead by promoting a lie.

The news of this clown show is spreading.
Moreover, from what we can tell,
You might be seeing the same
Buffoons in your state as well.

-by Bob B (5-23-21)

War criminal Netanyahu
Still isn't satisfied
Even after 52,000
People who lived in Gaza have died.

He wants to prolong the Israeli presence
In war-torn Gaza, which will mean
The campaign of carnage will continue.
Ah, the Israeli war machine!

Mass population transfers!
Ethnic cleansing! That's his plan.
Meanwhile, there will be much more
Suffering. What a despicable man!

Blocking food, blocking aid,
Netanyahu doesn't care
Whether he breaks international
Laws and causes death and despair.

Being anti-Netanyahu
Doesn't mean you're antisemitic.
Decrying atrocities in Gaza
Doesn't make you an unfair critic.

October 7, 2023,
Was a horror, without a doubt.
But how many more people will die
Before both sides will iron things out?

-by Bob B (5-9-25)

With its trusty algorithm,
Facebook prioritizes for you
Posts and ads so that you see
What it THINKS you want to view.

Bold and sassy, the company
Doesn't even apologize
When certain Facebook users receive
Political ads that are filled with lies.

By the way, are you a purist,
Whom the trend might disturb
To see "like" used as a noun
And the word "friend" used as a verb?

The world today revolves around
"Clicks" and "Likes" on the Internet.
People become bizarrely obsessed
With how many "Clicks" or "Likes" they get.

Email to many is cumbersome,
But if there's something you want me to see,
The BEST way to ensure that I see it
Would be to email or text it to me.

-by Bob (1-17-20)

It's said that a dog is "man's best friend."
To me they're a pain in the ****.
Usually, when I see a dog,
I see a mangy mutt.

Yipping, barking, slobbering, howling,
Shedding, pooping, and such,
Dogs are very high maintenance creatures,
Which can be a bit much.

I cringe when they run up to me
And want to spray them with mace
When after licking their rear, they try
To lick me in the face.

And cleaning up after them? My goodness!
It would make me gag
To pick up a giant pile of ****
With my hand in a plastic bag.

They can let the smelliest farts.
Granted, so can we.
But we can leave the room, or at least
Say, "Please pardon me."

And when they get sick, they crap all over
And ***** and make a mess.
It makes me want to throw up as well
And find a rapid egress.

Sometimes they'll ruin household items
By chewing on this or that.
And I will scream the loudest curse
Whenever I step where they shat.

Some dogs are much more tolerable
Than others, I'll admit.
If I pet one, I'm being nice
And not a hypocrite.

Dogs, I know, bring lots of joy
To people's lives. That's fine.
But I expect their pets to behave.
That's the bottom line.

I'm sure I'm in the minority
To feel the way I do.
But everyone has the right to share
His or her point of view.

Dog lovers will probably say
I'm just a grumpy old man.
Perhaps, but when it comes to dogs,
I'm simply not a fan.

-by Bob B (1-26-24)

An Arkansas pastor claims
That half of his church is willing to lick
The floor to prove that COVID-19
Is merely a hoax--a liberal trick.

In Florida, a megachurch
Pastor brazenly defies
An order restricting gatherings
Of more than ten people. NOT very wise.

The Bible study teacher for
Trump's Cabinet displays
His ignorance in blaming the spread
Of the virus COVID-19 on gays.

But no, not only on gays, but on
Environmentalists to boot.
How dangerous when an adviser at
The White House is a spiritual brute!

As if he knows the mind of God,
He says that God is angry; hence,
God is punishing humankind.
Where are reason and common sense?

It's hard to believe that in this year--
2020--one could swallow
Such poppycock, such balderdash,
Such vacuous words, cold and hollow.

-by Bob B (3-31-20)

We're ****** into the Game of Life
Crying, "Here I am! Make way!"
And then we have to play along,
Whether or not we want to play.

Confused and bewildered at first, we strive
To gather together strategic tools
To help us maneuver through twists and turns,
And as we play we learn the rules.

The game's not always easy, for our
Priorities often need rearranging.
What makes life even trickier yet
Is that the blasted rules keep changing!

Once in a while we win a round;
And then once in a while we lose.
We learn to celebrate our gains,
To ride out storms, to pay our dues.

We also learn that fellow players
Are NOT always on our side.
Thus, it's necessary for us
To be prepared for a bumpy ride.

Along the way, we will encounter
Liars who try to sabotage
Our efforts to thrive. We also have to
Learn what's true and what's a mirage.

Ah! Those moments of happiness--
We want to grasp them to make them last.
But sad times make their unwelcome entrance
And must be dealt with until they've passed.

Close calls often occur, and at times
We don't even know that they are there.
Don't be neurotic and paranoid,
But here's some advice: always beware.

Play with gusto, and always maintain
The enthusiasm of a beginner,
For in this game, each of us
Can ultimately be a winner.

Once we make our final move,
Forget grasping, fortune, and fame.
The rules will have changed again;
We'll be playing a different game.

-by Bob B (3-22-20)

The frigid winter was colder than ever.
The porcupines, both young and old,
Were deeply concerned, for animal friends
Were dying because of the bitter cold.

Therefore, they decided that
It would behoove them all to form
A close-knit group. Huddled together,
They could keep one another warm.

It seemed like a good idea at first,
But then they agreed with unanimity
That being so close was not working out:
Their quills pricked porcupines in proximity.

But later they learned that separated,
They were worse off, for no denying,
Unable to keep one another warm,
The freezing porcupines were dying.

If they planned to survive the winter,
They had to act, and so they decided
That being banded together was more
Beneficial than being divided.

And so they grouped together again,
Realizing that they could endure
The little jabs from the others' quills,
But they would survive the winter for sure.

The moral: when we look at life
And consider all our interconnections,
It's best if we can learn to live
With one another's imperfections.

Another way to look at the story:
Life can be painful, but we should strive
To put up with all the ****** in life
If we truly want to survive.

-by Bob B (1-20-20)

°A popular tale (author unknown) retold here in verse

Have you heard of Ichneumon wasps?
Be glad you're not a caterpillar.
You'd have to be on the lookout for
The Ichneumon wasp--a serial killer.

The wasp will find a caterpillar
And suddenly will quickly surprise it
By stinging it--not to **** it--
Only to shortly paralyze it.

She lays her eggs inside her victim,
Which will eventually serve as food
For the growing larvae within--
The wasp's hungry little brood.

The larvae start with digestive organs
And chomp away on their scrumptious repast,
Somehow knowing that they must save
The heart and nervous system till last.

They keep their caterpillar host
Alive as long as they can, you see.
People say insects can feel no pain.
Would the caterpillar agree?

As Earth's living creatures evolve,
The fight for survival doesn’t seem fair.
Some creatures suffer more than others,
But nature’s indifferent and doesn’t care.

Wasps have predators as well.
Sometimes they're losers; sometimes they're winners.
The prey that escape are the lucky ones.
The unlucky prey become predators' dinners.

-by Bob B (3-10-25)

When Teflon Don was under attack,
He would shrug his shoulders and scoff.
But finally it appears as though
His Teflon coating is wearing off.

Many people want to see justice.
For some an explosive was ignited.
They can't stand the thought that their
Former president was indicted.

They call it a witch hunt, a dangerous
Abuse of power, a communist plot,
A vengeful attack by angry libs--
All of which it's truly not.

Trump's attorney, Michael Cohen,
Had to serve a prison term.
If current charges are related,
Is that why Trump is starting to squirm?

If he is innocent, so be it.
Let's repeat day after day
The mantra "No one's above the law."
If he is guilty, then he should pay.

-by Bob B (4-1-23)

A lion, a fox, and an *** went hunting.
Then they had to divide the *****.
The *** was very pleased that the lion
Had conferred on him the duty.

The *** divided the ***** into
Three equal portions. He was quick!
Then he turned to the other two
And calmly said, "Take your pick."

Immediately, the lion pounced
Upon the *** and tore him to pieces.
(I guess the *** was rather naïve
And oblivious to lions' caprices.)

The fox, having observed the scene
And knowing the proper protocol,
Divided the ***** into TWO portions--
One was large; the other was small.

"Ah!" said the lion. "That is perfect.
How did you ever get so smart?"
"I watched what happened to the ***,"
Replied the fox, "and took it to heart."

From the fable we can learn
That we do NOT need to wear glasses
To see that we can learn from others'
Misfortunes, even if they are *****.

But there is still a little matter
About the fable that's hard to ignore:
Why would an *** hunt with a lion?
Since when was a donkey a carnivore?

-by Bob B (9-15-21)

°An Aesop fable, "The Lion, The Fox, and the ***," retold here in verse

Americans will very soon
Be heading back to the voting booth.
This election is all about freedom;
Ignoring THAT is denying the truth.

Freedom--that is--to live in a place
Where shooting deaths are minimized--
Where commonsense gun control
Measures can be exercised;

Freedom to live in a country where
The rule of law is held supreme
And isn't flouted and trampled on
By an administrative team;

Freedom for women to make decisions
Regarding their reproductive rights,
Which have been attacked by those
Who whet extremist appetites;

Freedom to access IVF
Treatment, which should be guaranteed
For anyone who's able to
Afford it and when there is a need;

Freedom to follow any religion
Or even to follow none at all,
And NOT have religion ****** on others,
For that's not anyone else's call;

Freedom to be the person you are
And not what others say you must be
Because they do not understand
Your natural trans identity;

Freedom to live in a country where
The right to vote is not suppressed,
And unscrupulous people don't make
Denying election results their quest;

Freedom to live without the worry
Of having your marriage rights denied
By folks who feel that anti-gay
Discrimination is justified.

Freedoms should NOT be taken lightly.
They're HARD to come by; EASY to lose.
Do we want to maintain our freedoms,
Or see them threatened? We must choose.

-by Bob B (7-30-24)

Curtis Yarvin--extremist blogger--
Is a real piece of work.
You'll find him on the Internet--
A place where many crackpots lurk.

He wants to dismantle the government
And force all government workers out
Through a plan that he calls RAGE°--
Something that he bandies about.

He claims that voting is now passé
And highly ineffectual.
He says he has a better idea,
This pseudo intellectual:

We should establish someone whom
He calls a “national CEO”--
In other words, a dictator.
He doesn't mince his words--oh, no.

Why do you think Trump is trying
To shut down federal agencies?
His blatant efforts to take control
Should put nobody's mind at ease.

And guess who's also been right there
In Yarvin's pocket all along:
JD Vance. He's singing the same
Scary, anti-democracy song!

They say our current Constitution
Is worthless and ought to be replaced.
In their eyes, our democratic
System should be laid to waste.

If people want to overthrow
Democracy, that's a good reason
For all of us to be alarmed.
That should be considered treason.

-by Bob B (1-30-25)

°Retire All Government Employees

The race is on. Watch the runners.
They will soon be rounding the bend.
Oh, the excitement! Oh, the thrills!
We're all wondering how it will end.

Runner number ONE is full
Of life, enthusiasm and grace.
Runner Number TWO, much older,
Has trouble keeping up with the pace.

Runner ONE advances with goals;
She will move the country ahead.
Runner TWO--a he, by the way--
Would move the country backwards, instead.

HER focus is not on herself;
What's BEST for the country is her aim.
HIS focus is how he can boost
His OWN ego and garner fame.

HER beliefs are true and sincere.
HIS, however, seem so shoddy.
In fact, the phony doesn't even
Have a religious bone in his body.

She is optimistic about
A future that's bright and full of hope.
He is full of negative rants
And looks and sounds like a misanthrope.

SHE believes in letting the voters
Fairly decide if she will win.
From past experience he knows
That ONLY through cheating he'll save his skin.

Will Runner TWO stay on his feet,
Or will he trip over more of his lies?
Can Runner ONE keep her momentum
As her supporters' spirits rise?

And on they run. Their fans are cheering.
My goodness! It would be so fine
If Runner Number ONE could be
The first to cross the finish line!

-by Bob B (8-10-24)

Thanks to people who didn't vote
For putting us all in the mess we're in.
Thanks to those who were uninformed
For making sure that Trump would win.

A number of voters who took to the polls
Did us all a disservice because,
For one thing, a lot of them didn't
Even know what a tariff was.

For some, the word "autocrat"
Was not in their vocabulary.
A lot of those people voted for Trump.
Frankly, that is downright scary.

And even though in history classes
We have studied the past, it seems
That many people have forgotten
Or still don’t know what “fascism” means.

There were voters who said they'd never
Vote for a woman, and so they chose
To cast their vote for Donald Trump
To be a part of the party of bros.

To voters who cast a protest vote,
Now are you satisfied?
Do you see what happens when
Common sense and anger collide?

Of course, some just like the man.
They like Trump for his tough guy stance.
Watch as he and Elon Musk
Carry out their bro-romance.

A lot of people were clueless about
How the Biden administration
Played a substantial role in helping
Americans across our nation.

And so, we are stuck with a man
Who'll do his best to cater to
Extremists and wackos everywhere.
The damage will be hard to undo.

-by Bob B (11-18-24)

Today will be the kind of day
That I would rather wish away.
But wishing will not change the fact
That it's time to reenact
A little procedure--not so merry--
Which, I fear, is necessary.
For I have to prep, you see,
For my colonoscopy!

TMI, you say. Why share
The messy details of this affair?
Details? No, I'll spare you those.
That is something to leave to the pros.
But anyone who's done this before
Knows what tomorrow has in store.
Frankly, it's not my cup of tea--
Having a colonoscopy.

The prep is really the part I hate.
No solid food upon my plate.
And nothing purple, red, or blue.
Jello's the only thing I can chew.
Otherwise, it's liquids only.
My stomach's already feeling lonely.
Tomorrow I will eat with glee,
AFTER my colonoscopy.

Tonight at 6:00 the "clean-out" commences.
That could have bad consequences
If our toilet were out of commission.
Then I'd be in an awkward position.
Tonight you will have to admit
That you can’t say I’m full of &%!#.
I assume that you'd agree:
Not fun, a colonoscopy.

-by Bob B (3-8-20)

Women of Texas, steady yourselves;
The breeze is turning into a gale.
The American Taliban is trying
To force you into a Handmaid's Tale.

Women of Texas, if you are
Of childbearing age, please remember
That wildfires of epic proportions
Can start with only a single ember.

Women of Texas, although they aren't
A panacea that cures all ills,
IF you're concerned, maybe it's time
To stock up on morning after pills.

Women of other states, beware:
The stealers of women's rights aren't through.
Attacks on you and your freedom of choice
Might be occurring in your state, too.

-by Bob B (9-3-21)

Utnapashtim, ancient in age,
Was paid a visit--which seemed quite odd--
From Ea, who thousands of years ago
Was a Sumerian water god.

The gods were angry with people on Earth.
As it turned out, the gripe that they had
Was simply because the humans were noisy
And NOT because they were evil or bad.

A god called Enlil suggested a flood.
It would be done, at his behest.
Once all that was over, he said,
The gods could get a good night's rest.

Ea told Utnapashtim to build
A giant boat. One of its features:
To be gigantic enough to hold
"The seed of ALL living creatures."

Utnapashtim finished his boat
Just before the rains began.
For six whole days and six whole nights
It rained nonstop, according to plan.

The only ones who survived the flood
Were those on Utnapashtim's boat.
Needless to say, they were all
Lucky that it had kept afloat.

The seventh day brought clear, calm weather.
A dove was released, but it soon returned.
Utnapashtim released a swallow.
When IT came back, too, he grew concerned.

"Hmmm," he thought. "Let's try a raven."
He sent forth a raven, and what do you know?
The raven did NOT return, for it
Had come across land. Way to go!

The huge boat came to rest upon
A mountaintop as waters receded.
All were relieved that the water god's
Urgent warnings had been heeded.

A god called Ishtar made the first
Rainbow appear across the sky
To serve as a promise of no more floods
And be a glory to meet the eye.

If you think that the story sounds
Familiar, well, you aren't alone.
The Israelites borrowed the story,
Changed it a bit, and made it their own.

-by Bob B (2-23-25)

Trump and his lawyers had better shut up
If they want to win his case.
They're digging a deeper grave each day
In efforts to try to stir up Trump's base.

Every time Trump opens his mouth
He sticks his foot deeper inside.
He lies to justify his actions,
But facts are something from which he can't hide.

We have the videos, speeches, and tweets,
In which Trump makes his intentions clear.
Will he keep pushing the envelope
As the upcoming trials draw near?

"Most Republicans act like weak jerks,"
Says Trump, as he goes after his own.
Nothing or no one is sacred to him;
He can't even leave his supporters alone.

They have to "get tough" and "fight fire with fire,"
He says. The man cannot keep quiet.
It's almost as though he's intent upon
Instigating another riot.

Trump has been admonished to watch
His words and actions before his trial.
Is that even possible
For someone like him who lives in denial?

Will he attempt to cooperate?
Most likely he will try to derail
Our system of justice. We will see.
Maybe he'll blow it and end up in jail.

-by Bob B (8-5-23)

It seems that many speakers of English
Appeared to succumb to slumber
When English lessons were taught regarding
The words "amount" and "number."

Large amounts of time. Correct.
Large amounts of rice.
"Amount" refers to something seen
As a mass, to be precise.

But when we refer to things we can count,
"Number" should be used.
For some reason, English speakers
Often get confused.

A large number of people, we say,
Vote in our elections.
Or a number of germs out there
Can cause major infections.

A large amount of people? No!
Do not go there, please.
But it's quite all right to request
A small amount of cheese.

"Beans" is one of those funny words
Often used as a mass:
I ate a large amount of beans,
And boy, do I have gas!

It really shouldn't be too hard
If you know how to count
To know how to distinguish between
"Number" and "amount."

-by Bob B (4-1-22)

In horror we watched as our nation's
Capitol Building was overrun
By wild, angry pro-Trump mobs
On one…six…twenty-one.

Who were these people? you might ask.
Do you really want to know?
It's hard to imagine how people here
Could be so vile and stoop that low.

We could see T-shirts that read
6 - M - W - E.
"Six Million Wasn't Enough"
Is what they say it means, you see.

The number "Six Million"° refers
To the number of Jews whose lives were lost
Back in the 1940s during
The nightmarish Holocaust!

At least one **** wore a T-shirt
That read "Camp Auschwitz." He's a guy
You wouldn't want to bring home to Mother.
I'll give you fifty reasons why.

Some stormed through the halls of Congress
Waving Confederate flags. How telling!
Others were members of white militias,
Running through the building and yelling.

Others involved were QAnon people
Who have nothing better to do
Than think up bizarre conspiracy theories
And then pretend that the nonsense is true.

Members of the KKK
Also showed up there to endorse
The president. But who is shocked?
That is merely par for the course.

One thing that united them all
Was how they swallowed the president's lies.
After he fired them up at a rally,
Their wild behavior was not a surprise.

Trump says these are patriots!
Patriots? If such a display
Shows patriotism, then Trump is growing
More delusional every day.

-by Bob B (1-9-21)

°Some estimate that the number was millions more

It was only six months ago
That we had an insurrection
Because a former president
Refused to believe he lost an election.

Inciting a large part of his base,
He kept repeating his dangerous lie,
Casting doubts on election results
That Congress was going to certify.

Many people want to pretend
That nothing serious happened that day.
They THINK that by ignoring it,
The whole nightmare will go away.

Gaslighting the public by making
People believe what isn't true
Further emboldens extremist groups
That Trump has given oxygen to.

Many members of Congress want
To get to the bottom of what occurred.
And yet the deniers are trying to squelch
The investigations, from what we've heard.

We need to know the facts: the whats
The whys, the whos, the hows and the wheres.
Let's get to the bottom of this
Horrifying state of affairs.

Over 500 people have been
Arrested for the part that they played
That day in storming the Capitol Building
And carrying out their disgusting crusade.

Whatever you do, do not call them
Patriots or tourists! NO!
The word "insurrectionists"
Is really much more apropos.

The more the truth is revealed, the more
We will understand, and then
We can hope that such an attack
Never ever happens again.

-by Bob B (7-6-21)

If vital evidence is withheld,
In NO way can a trial be legit.
Such a trial would be a sham;
Our system of justice would take a hit.

If key, relevant witnesses
Cannot testify, then how
Can the outcome of such a case
Be valid? It can't. What's happening now

In the Senate is a travesty.
Finding the truth is not the goal.
Kowtowing Mitch McConnell
Disgustingly has sold his soul.

The president's lawyers focus on
Arguments completely off base.
They try to distract the members of Congress
With info irrelevant to the case.

Still obstructing Congress, Trump
Expects that he will be acquitted,
When in actuality,
He really ought to be committed.

-by Bob B (1-28-20)

The DNC commenced last night,
And wow, what a shot in the arm!
Mr. Trump had better watch out!
He must feel a sense of alarm.

How refreshing it is to feel
Optimistic once again!
Enlightening, it was like
Experiencing a moment of Zen!

Dignity, decency,
Love, integrity, and truth
Were key words mentioned last night.
Let's hope they inspire our youth.

Women's right to make their choices
Regarding their bodies was a theme.
And how to control corporate greed
Should be more than just a dream.

Celebrating our common purpose
And selfless leadership as well
Made the atmosphere electric
And cast a thrilling, uplifting spell.

Giving praise to diversity
And honoring the working class
Were key last night, along with the hope
Of shattering the ceiling of glass.

When Hillary spoke--oh, my goodness!--
No doubt about it: she was on fire.
Hearing such a powerful speech
Is something of which I never tire.

President Biden was recognized.
Graciously, he passed the baton
To Harris, who will lead us forth.
It's no longer Joe versus Don.

We can see a brand new light.
The bright future will contrast
With Trump's barely illuminated
Journey back to a dismal past.

Freedom and democracy
Are entering a new dimension.
What a motivation for voters!
What a way to start a convention!

-by Bob B (8-20-24)

Many people don’t know this, but it’s
As clear as clear can be:
The whale was once a land mammal
That made its way back to the sea.

We all came from the sea, of course,
And crawled onto the sand.
Later some mammals perhaps became
Tired of living on land.

Fifty million years ago
Is when those mammals decided
To spend a lot more time in the water
For something that it provided.

Their descendants became aquatic--
Fully so. We know
All of this because of what
The fossil records show.

The features they needed for sea adaptation
Were not new and bold ones.
All that they required were
Modifications of old ones.

Their bodies adapted; they grew in size.
Seas and oceans, make way!
After millions and millions of years,
We have the whale of today.

(Whales and hippos are very close cousins.
Although it’s not as big,
The hippo's more closely related to
The whale than it is to a pig.)

The whale has tiny hindlimb and pelvic
Bones embedded in tissue.
It is as though its body is saying,
“I don’t need or miss you.”

But what is the largest mammal on Earth?
The blue whale is by far.
How would you like to give birth to a baby
That’s as big as a car?

O mighty king and queen of the ocean--
So worthy of being acclaimed!
So much pain we humans have caused you!
We should be ashamed!

Mighty ones, you have seen
The damage we humans can do,
While all along we should have known
How much we could learn from you.

-by Bob B (3-11-25)

Life has its beautiful moments
When everything appears to jell.
Then, of course, life is filled
With moments of suffering as well.

Good days, bad days. The pendulum swings.
We’re happy today, we’re sad tomorrow.
Our attitude makes a huge difference
In how we respond to joy and sorrow.

Whatever inhabits my earthly form
Is a temporary guest
Until that time comes for me
To enter into eternal rest.

Eternal rest. I like how that sounds.
And also the thought of resting in peace.
Happiness becomes transformed
And illness, pain, and suffering cease.

It’s human nature for us to want
Some things to last forever and hence
As much as we cling to people and things,
Know that there is a consequence.

I hate the thought of leaving my loved ones--
My family, my friends--and earthly pleasures,
But when my time is up, I know
That Death defies our countermeasures.

That being said, I do not wish
To die tomorrow or hasten the end.
I just prefer to look at Death
Not as a foe but more as a friend.

-by Bob B (10-26-21)

Two men stopped by a Zen temple
To speak with the temple master, who
They hoped would eagerly share with them
His honest and expert point of view.

The first man said, "I think I want
To move to the local town, so please
Tell me what the town is like.
That will put my mind at ease."

The master responded, "Tell ME about
Your current town. How would you rate it?"
"Ugh!" the man replied. "The people
There are mean and hateful. I hate it!"

The master listened calmly, and then
Shaking his head, he said, "It's clear
From what you have been telling me
That you would also hate it here."

The man bowed and left the room.
The second man entered the room and sat.
He also inquired about the town
And the surrounding habitat.

"Tell me about your current town,"
The master said with a smile on his face.
"The people are nice," the man replied.
"It's a truly wonderful place."

"Ah!" the master exclaimed. "Then from
What you're telling me, I can tell
That you without a doubt are going
To love the local town as well."

-by Bob B (3-3-21)

°An old Zen anecdote retold here in verse