By: Cedric McClester

I am not your *****
Nor am I your black
African-American
As a matter of fact
I am not anyone
You choose to define
Other than a person
Of the human kind

I am not your *****
Nor am I your black
African-American
As a matter of fact
I escaped slavery
Many years ago
But the way I’m treated
You would never know

I am not your *****
Nor am I your black
African-American
As a matter of fact
Black lives matter too
Just the same as yours
We’ve fought and died in every one
Of your many wars

I am not your *****
Nor am I your black
African-American
As a matter of fact
I’m not for your convenience
Though you may think I am
See I’ve never had an uncle
By the name of Sam









Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By; Cedric McClester

They report without remorse
And rarely do they name their source
The enemies of the people of course
Are hard for us to endorse
Read whatever you may choose
Then classify it as fake news
Their behavior can’t be excused
Because their power is often abused

Ain’t  it enough to make you sick
Just listening to his rhetoric
Fake news or others take your pick
You can count on him to throw a brick
Through a window that’s plate glass
To the world he shows his ***
Though we think he’s moving much too fast
But as the Bible says, “This too will pass.”

Praise the name of Donald Trump
Who’s still on the campaign stump
We hope that he hits a speed bump
Before he lands in the trash dump
Now we’re not saying crash or burn
But in good time we’re sure he’ll learn
Although right now it’s of no concern
Everybody’s gonna get their turn

Slowly he will be exposed
The chinks in his armor everybody knows
But he’ll continue I suppose
Along a path that is primrose
Selling supporters unreal dreams
Cos nothing’s as easy as it seems
He’s selling promises by the reams
But who’s watching the revenue streams




Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved

By: Cedric McClester

In the name of
Law and order
Their time here
Is growing shorter
Since he’s become
The nation’s chief exporter
They’re being sent back
Over the border

Even though
It doesn’t calm us
He’s keeping
A campaign promise
So why are we
Acting so astonished
At least
We’ve gotta say he’s honest

When they’re gone
What are we gonna do
About the kind of labor
That we refuse to
Who will pick the produce
That we eat?
Or mix the concrete
For the sidewalk or street

He’s telling ‘em
Open your bags and pack
So be prepared
Cos I’m sending you back
To the country that
You came from
Even though
That’s not true of some









Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Is the enemy of the people
A free press?
Or is it someone
You might not have guessed
Like a person
Who nevertheless
Is defined by
His acts of excess

Is the enemy of the people
A free press
Or a leader
Who lacks largesse
When it comes to
Those he detests
Mexicans, Muslims
And the rest

Is the enemy of the people
A free press
Or the leader
Who’s like an abscess - tooth
But I guess
I digress
Cos I had to get it
Off of my chess

Is the enemy of the people
A free press
Or a faux populist
Of the noblesse
Who promises more
But gives less
And whose childish impulses
Are unsuppressed






Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

If the leaks are real
But the news is fake
Because that’s what it takes
For the stories to break
Then what’s the average Joe
Suppose to make
Out of what he’s hearing
For heaven’s sake

If the leaks are real
But the news is fake
And the press conferences
Are considered cheesecake
And his Twitter account
He won’t forsake
You can even find him up
Tweeting at daybreak

If the leaks are real
But the news is fake
And all night long
He’s wide awake
Looking at TV like
Some kind of sponge cake
Hanging on to his cell phone
Like it's a keepsake

If the leaks are real
But the news is fake
And he’s striking back
Like a rattlesnake
See it’s a spectacle
In which we all partake
Though we should tell him
To jump in a lake










Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Russians attacked
Our democracy
But there’s little interests
If you ask me
On the part of some lawmakers
Who appear to be
More interested in
The leaks that they see

Russians attacked
Our democracy
But where is the furor
Like in Benghazi
Something ain’t right
And here is the key
There’s more partisanship
Than there needs to be

Russians attacked
Our democracy
But he’s not upset
Like he should be
Not the least bit ruffled
From what I can see
And his attitude
Is a real mystery

Russians attacked
Our democracy
And steered an election
That we thought was free
By hacking emails
Of the DNC
And leaking them
As the case may be


















Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

It’s nothing but lies
That he repeats
He stays up all night
And launches his tweets
That on occasion
He sometimes deletes
And it’s clear to us
That he likes his sweets

He’s now being challenged
By his Russian friends
Yet he remains silent
But alas! to what ends
North Koreans launch
Missiles in the sky
And he has no answer
To the daunting question why

He plays the strong man
But he’s really weak
Behind the curtain
If we take a peek
There have been others
So he’s not unique
We see his motive
Although it’s oblique

It isn’t mysterious
No it’s crystal clear
He’s trying to rule
By instilling fear
And if it works out
Our rights disappear
Out of our hands
And into thin air












Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

He’s quick to lie
Though his face doesn’t show it
And if he keeps on
He’s sure to blow it
Yet the question remains
That he never explains
What did he know.
And when did he know it?

How in hell
Are we suppose to trust him
When he’s been playing footsie
With people in Russia
And the question remains
That he never explains
What did he know.
And when did he know it?

He can send out
All the spin that he needs to
But we wanna know
Where all of this lead to
So the question remains
That he never explains
What did he know
And when did he know it

The truth will come out
It always does in the end
To assume that it won’t
Is just to pretend
And the question remains
That he never explains
What did he know.
And when did he know it?







Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

His conspiracy theories
Are making the rounds
Like the birther issue
As absurd as it sounds
Now it’s election fraud
In many states and towns
And nothing he says
Seems out of bounds

Millions and millions
Though it may sound odd
Have been accused
Of election fraud
But where is the proof
Bring out the truth squad
To blow a hole through it
Just like a petard

Now they say his power
Is all but absolute
Because Congress and the Supreme Court
Have thus far been mute
Never mind the Constitution
Entering the dispute
See it’s just a matter of time
Before he’s given the boot

Just because he says it
Doesn’t make it true
But he feels most people
Don’t have a clue
So he’s spreading fear
We observed as it grew
And much like the Boogie Man
He too is saying boo

















Cedric McClester, Copyright ©2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Many many, people
He’s fond of saying
When questioned about
The things he’s okaying
But how many are many
I’d like to know
And how deep do those numbers
Actually go

Many,many people
Like that justifies
His alternate facts
Or outright lies
Just because some say it
Doesn’t make it true
How many are there
I wish I knew

Many, many people
Is an alibi
For his outrageous positions
When questioned why
Because of a belief
Like his argument's strong
Whether his assertions
Are right or wrong

Many, many people
Like saying case closed
Because of some numbers
Nobody knows
Impressive to some
I would suppose
But not to me
And I hope it shows














Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By; Cedric McClester

“We’re the greatest country on earth?”
Minus the principles that gave it birth
For whatever it’s worth
That question only causes mirth
In the light of what’s been done
By the Russian-anointed one
Now his oppression has begun
And it’s darkness without sun

‘We’re the greatest country on earth?
Despite our clear and obvious dearth
Of compassion laced with girth
That’s locked up in Leavenworth
And he is quite convinced
That his order’s making sense
But that’s ego and so hence
He’ll have to recompense

“We’re the greatest country on earth?”
But unlike a Hollingsworth
We have not increased in worth
We’re becoming hell on earth
Underneath his leadership
Maybe that was just a slip
Over my tongue I must have tripped
And I feel like getting ripped

“We’re the greatest country on earth?
Perhaps that statement is a curse
Cos we’ve gone from bad to worse
While we struggle to be first
And other people can be ******
Under he am what he am
And if that sounds like a slam
Perhaps I don’t give a ****











Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By; Cedric McClester

It’s not about religion
But I must say
It’s of interest to me
How you pray
Do you face a qibla
Or the cross let’s say
Do you pray once in a while
Or five times a day

It’s not about religion
But it looks that way
Which is how it is interpreted
No matter what you say
Or why are certain countries
Brought into play
But countries where they came from
Are not, okay?

It’s not about religion
But Muslims are demonized
And the ugly head of racism
Has been reprised
Yet racism is racism
Under any guise
And that just shouldn’t be
Word to the wise

It’s not about religion
But that’s a lie
Despite what else is said
It’s just an alibi
Just look at what they’re doing
And it’s no wonder why
The law of retribution
Will one day apply














Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

He doesn’t read books
Or take second looks
Before he sinks his hooks
Into the stews he over cooks
So let me get this off my chess
If I had to take a guess
What he deems a great success
Is considerably much less

And let’s not forget
That he trolls the internet
Then places his bet
Based on misinformation - yet
He touts it like it’s gospel
Even though that is quite awful
Sometimes not even lawful
Because rarely is he thoughtful

He doesn’t take advice
Or think about it twice
Instead he rolls the dice
For us to pay the price
And pay the price we will
For the freedoms he will ****
Clearly he just needs to chill
But I doubt he ever will

He’s a creature of TV
That they’ve dubbed “reality”
But how could that be
When it’s foolishness ya see
Look who he’s surrounded by
It’s enough to make you cry
That they promote a lie
Then make it an alibi















Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Help me understand
This in not a Muslim band
Against those from Muslim land
Whose skin is brown or tan?
Though they’re ones cited
To be held or not invited
To this homeland of the free
It’s a mystery to me

Help me understand
How the hatred that you fan
Across the desert sand
Can achieves objectives planned?
When your Islamaphobia
Has your enemies disrobing ya
About your claustrophobia
It's reminiscent of Cambodia

Help me understand
Assuming that you can
Show me that it’s other than
A straight up Muslim ban?
See the seven countries that you picked
Is why the notion clicked
They’re the ones that you constrict
With your macho fueled edict

Help me understand
Was your rollout planned
To show the world your backhand
It's sinking you like quicksand?
See the trust has been broken
And people have clearly spoken
Telling you that they’re heartbroken
But your answers are merely token












Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By; Cedric McClester

In the home of the brave
And the land of the free
How extreme does
Extreme vetting have to be?
Are we so fearful
That the country we see
Has become unrecognizable
To our enemy’s glee

In the home of the brave
And the land of the free
We’d do well to tread
Much more carefully
Cos the xenophobia
That we now see
Isn’t winning us fans
Or new devotees

In the home of the brave
And the land of the free
We’re unwelcoming
To the frightened who flee
From Muslim countries
They’re denied entry
Into the former bastion
Of the poor and hungry

In the home of the brave
And the land of the free
We’ve changed so much
And so rapidly
That the words lose meaning
Unfortunately
And we’ve lost our soul
The whole world can see









Cedric McClester, Copyright 9C0 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

They’re holding ‘em
At airports
Stopping them
From coming in
What’s being done
To some Muslims
Border on a sin
Is this the price
They pay
For their desire
To be free
It smacks
Of blatant racism
If you’re asking me

They’re holding ‘em
At airports
Like cattle
In a bin
In the name
Of homeland security
“Least that’s
What they pretend
The countries
Have been named
But none from Nine-Eleven
Their number
To be exact
Totals out at seven

They’re holding ‘em
At airports
Because of
Their religion
You can say
What you will
But he’s made
His decision
Based on
Little else
Other than
Irrational fear
In the face of principals
We used to hold dear



Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

We’re thirty seconds closer to midnight
The nuclear scientists all say
Before the Biblically revealed Armageddon
Is tragically brought into play
The world believes that a madman
Has his hands on the nuclear codes
And frankly other leaders are worried
Because of what that forebodes

We’re thirty seconds closer to midnight
According to the nuclear clock
And people all over the world
Are frankly expressing their shock
At the talk of building up stockpiles
As a necessary and clear deterrent
While furthering an insane plan
That isn’t at best coherent

We’re thirty seconds closer to midnight
And some are abandoning hope
Others are still optimistic
By holding tightly onto God’s Rope
But whatever side you may fall on
The potential for disaster is real
When the head of a powerful nation
Operates by how he may feel

We’re thirty seconds closer to midnight
That’s’ a sad but salient fact
With all sides worried and wondering
Who’ll make the first strike attack
Instead of reducing our stockpiles
They’re hell-bent on building them up
Take the time to look at their profiles
You’ll discover that most are corrupt


















Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Repeal and replace
Everyone he will insure
We hope that’s the case
But he’s lied to us before
The truth of the matter is
We can’t say for sure
If you’re middle class
Or the abject poor

Repeal and replace
But tell me what with
An alternate plan
They have yet to give
Over twenty million people
Just want to live
So at least give them something
That’s more determinative

Repeal and replace
The ACA
Which they referred to as
Obamacare any way
And we’re still waiting
I must say
For an adequate alternative
To be brought into play

Repeal and replace
Our health insurance
With one that’s acceptable
Requires endurance
For those who are waiting
It’s procurance
There is no one to offer them
The desired assurance








Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

We’ve seen this movie
Played out before
And there’s certain parts of it
We shouldn’t ignore
Like where it morphs
Into Nineteen eighty-four
Or how the strong leader
Talks us into war

By now we should all
Be familiar with the script
Ain’t it clear to you
That he’s on an ego trip
We shouldn’t even have to
Replay the clip
To arrive at the part
That made the ratings slip

This movie already had
A general release
Now it’s in reruns
Only in the Middle East
The people are demanding
That the madness cease
So we can catch our breath
Or try to at least

We’ve seen this movie
Played out before
Where the Storm Troopers
Suddenly kick in the door
Then round up the people
As they cry and implore
And ask the strong leader
Why’d he do it for?











Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By; Cedric McClester

He vows to build a fence
Along the Mexican border
By fiat
Through executive order
And his fingers
Are getting shorter and shorter
Ask those who know him
Like his wife or his daughter

He vows to build a pipeline
Across Indian land
Sympathizers and environmentalist
Will just have to understand
He’s creating jobs
Like the his supporters demand
Cracking down on Muslim immigrants
By having them banned

He vows to undo
All that Obama’s done
For him it could be called
Just having fun
He keeps going back
To the election he won
Caught up in the clouds
While ignoring the sun

He vows to make America
Great once again
At least that’s what he says
As only he can
I guess you could say
He’s an unusual man
Lots of folks like him
But I’m not a fan







Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Forget the EPA
That’s so yesterday
In time we’ll have to pay
But who cares anyway
They used to work for you and me
But not anymore don’t cha see
We have a President
Who’s hell-bent and won’t repent

Forget the CDC
Looking out for you and me
Cos they are in a rut
With their budget cut
There’s little they can do
To protect me and you
They can’t detect the latest flu
Like they used to do

Forget the DOJ
Who won’t point the way
Towards an enlightened government
Civil rights have all been spent
Now the ACLU’s out of the loop
And the fox oversees the chicken coop
They’ve been set up to fail
And progess is off the rail

Are you listening to me
What about the CPB
There’s no protection anymore
Like we used to have before
If we get ripped off  then so what
Consumer protection we haven’t got
And that’s not what will make us great
Despite the slogan he may state



Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved

By: Cedric McClester

His insanity borders on
The executive orders
Signed by his tiny hands
Listing demands
Like repeal and replace
But in any case
On the chance that you care
It’s simply not fair

So what have we got
And what have we not
Ya see for a fact
Jobs aren’t coming back
Just because he threatens
He don’t have the weapons
To change history’s course
With language or force

On the chance that you care
Or might be aware
Of the global warming
Our planet’s performing
Due to man’s neglect
He says what the heck
We need to be drilling
Though it's us that we’re killing

Though all hope may be gone
Some still cheer him on
Without rhyme or reason
It’s the silly season
And after everything’s taken
That’s when they’ll awaken
And they’ll redirect their hate
A little too late











Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Here are the wherefores and whys
Alternative facts are just lies
Projected as strong alibis
To misdirect the unwise
The photos offer us the proof
That alternative facts aren’t the truth
From the mouth of the liar and chief
It’s incredulous beyond belief

Admittedly she’s a real jewel
Convincing to those she can fool
But she’s being used like a tool
And that is unusual and cruel
The universe she’s living in
Is ruled by an ocean of spin
She does it because she can
Can we have the church say amen

The press is truly amazed
How she instantly coined the phrase
Alternative facts now replays
In interesting and varied ways
Like no one wants to see his taxes
When the opposite is where the facts is
But I guess she’s had so much practice
At the prestidigitation she waxes

She’s his spokesperson, as it were
Her words rarely represent her
Over time it becomes a blur
Though that thought might not occur
His taxes remain on a shelf
So blame him and nobody else
If he de-legitimizes himself
Like Kramden, I’m talkin’ ‘bout Ralph






Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

As long as you know one day
That you are gonna die
And you can’t say for certain
You know the reason why
Get down on your knees
And look up towards the sky
The answer to your question
Rests with God on high

As long as you have blood
Pumping through your veins
As well as a heart beat
The question still remains
Who’s in control of all of this
And the breath you breathe
It’s God The Omnipotent
Is that hard to believe?

As long as we have night
That turns into day
Then there should be no question
Let the believers say
It’s God the Omnipotent
Who has shown the way
For all that’s in existence
He made us out of clay

As long as the sun rises
Over in the east
And we desire war
Instead of lasting peace
Let’s pray to God the Omnipotent
That one day it will cease
So the lamb can finally lie down
With the savage beast















Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

For dues already paid
Like in Roe vs Wade
Or moves against segregation
Like Brown vs the Board of Education
He wants to reverse
The progress in our nation
If America is to be great again
Guess we’ll have to have some patience

For dues already paid
And the many tombstones laid
As we struggled to move on
From a time that’s long been gone
We seek nevertheless to go forward
Not to regress
We intend to stand fast
And we’re gonna do our best

For dues already paid
And the progress already made
We have to stay on course
To avoid any remorse
In our efforts to improve
As we increase our gains
The appointments he has made
Contributes to our pains

For dues already paid
Whose memories never fade
Far from our consciousness
We’re hoping for the best
While looking at the worst
He’s telling the whole world
America’s the country
That he places first













Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

We stand for right
Against the wrong
And we’re over
One million strong
To simply say
That we belong
So don’t start singing
Our swan song

We stand for right
And we demand
That he apply
An even hand
Whether or not
He thinks he can
Keep his glow
And orange tan

We stand for right
We’re not alone
In time we’ll change
His heart of stone
Into a less
A contentious bone
Until he does
He’s on his own

We stand for right
And refuse to fall
Although we hear
A clarion call
To take us backwards
And attempt to stall
All that we gained
They sure have gall











Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

He didn’t mean it
Or ain’t gonna do it
If he intended to
Clearly he blew it
Now we can say
We always knew it
Asking why did he
Put us through it?

He didn’t mean it
Although he said it
Some might have heard
Or perhaps read it
But either or
We can’t forget it
Let’s hope we don’t
Live to regret it

He didn’t mean it
In case you care
We always knew
He was insincere
Things rarely are
As they appear
I’m trying to be
Perfectly clear

He didn’t mean it
As we can see
When he said
Our lunch was free
It’s never been
For you or me
Or for the folks
At Wounded Knee












Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Women swarmed the streets
Of Washington and the USA
Putting the President on notice
That they don’t intend to play
And he can’t take away
Everything that they’ve gained
To make America great again
Had better be explained

Women swarmed the streets
Some called it ***** power
Their numbers were increasing
Each and every hour
Even over seas
Their voices could be heard
So trying to keep them down
At that point was absurd

Women swarmed the streets
They came from everywhere
And every ethnic group
Was represented there
In all stripes and colors
Of the rainbow see
Expressing their desire
To have him let them be

Women swarmed the streets
It’s not to be believed
How their numbers kept increasing
Who in the world conceived
That two women from Hawaii
Would have been the trigger
For a demonstration and march
That just got bigger and bigger










Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By; Cedric McClester

I don’t give a ****
What you say
He’s not
The legitimate president anyway
But you and I no doubt
Will have to pay
Because the Russians
Put him into play

I don’t give a ****
What you think
His hair alone
Makes me wanna drink
The thought of him
Grabbing some woman’s pink
Makes me wanna question
Who the hell's his shrink?

I don’t give a ****
But then you knew
He don’t  even have
The slightest clue
So don’t ask me
Where this is headed to
When it's only four more years
That we have to get through

I don’t give a ****
That he chose Pence
Republicans think
It makes perfect sense
So therefore, hence
His true nature
Will come out in the rinse

By: Cedric McClester

This isn’t the end
It’s the beginning
And we’re only in
The first inning
Raised voices are
Our underpinning
For a movement
That’s growing not thinning

This isn’t the end
It’s the beginning
Those who don’t understand
May be grinning
Or trying to hit back
By offending
Despite the fact
We’re ascending

This isn’t the end
It’s the beginning
Because we intend
To be winning
So they can go on
Condescending
But we will remain
Unbending

This isn’t the end
It’s the beginning
And we hope that
They’re comprehending
We’re not into
Deficit spending
Our movement is
Has no ending





Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Don’t attack me
Because we disagree
I have the right
To be LGBT
Don’t attack me
And expect me to surrender
Due to my color
Or because my gender

Don’t attack me and think
I’ll turn the other cheek
I won’t be submissive
Nor will I be weak
What must I do
To make you understand
Don’t attack me
Cos you think you can

Don’t attack me
Like it’s open season
Without a rhyme
Or even a reason
Don’t attack me
Like a lamb to slaughter
Nor should you do it
Cos you think you oughta

Don’t attack me
Because it’s convenient
When you know that you
Should try to be lenient
Don’t attack me
Because you find it easy
It would be easier
If you tried to please me


Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

A leopard doesn’t
Change it’s spots
Nor does a zebra
Change it’s stripes
America won’t be
Great again
It’s just a slogan
He hypes

Nothing will end
Here and now
That’s just
What he says
I can’t help
But feel somehow
That we should
Say our prayers

He promises to
To bring back
Our jobs
As if he really can
Like he’s some kind
Of employment god
But he’s merely
A man

He can do
Whatever he wants
Because of his
Celebrity
I think he’s on
An ego trip
If you're
Asking me




Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Braille for the chief
Who’s hard to debrief
And despite our grief
Won’t turn a new leaf
At our expense
He remains intense
Hard to convince
Even with the evidence

Braille for the chief
Who to our disbelief
Creates beef
Like an aperitif
Loves all things Russian
For the sake of discussion
To the point of gushing
Without repercussion

Braille for the chief
The election thief
With little to bequeath
Once they lay the wreath
We’re all aware
There’s no substance there
He doesn’t even care
About our despair

Braille for the chief
There’s nothing underneath
His clenched teeth
But an empty sheath
Despite the way it sounds
Like the Baskerville Hounds
His ego knows no bounds
Or has no turnarounds









Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

If I don’t do it for you baby
Then someone else might maybe
Though I think you oughta know
That I’d hate to see you go
If I don’t satisfy your needs
And someone else succeeds
There’s little else I can say
If you choose to walk away

If I’m no longer what you want
Don’t insinuate or start to taunt
There’s no need to nevertheless
Or even make me have to guess
See you’re all that I’m thinking of
But if you’ve fallen out of love
There’s little else I can say
If you choose to walk away

If you say that our love is done
And I’m no longer the one
See I really don’t have a clue
As to what else I can do
It will hurt like you don’t know
To realize you’re gonna go
But there’s little else I can say
If you choose to walk away

Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

I say march on
To Talladega
Why try to make
The issue mega
Cuz it ain’t about
His inauguration
It’s about respect
For our nation

Just becuz
He may be hated
Why should the office  
Be underrated
That’s not to say
That I’m elated
Becuz the band
Participated

Despite protests
You can place your bets
We’re gonna see
Those Rockettes
Dancing and
Kicking their heels
No matter how bad
Inside it feels

Then there’s
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Who will perform
As they aspire
But from the guest list
We can see
They’re lacking
In celebrity







Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2017.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

I should have known
By the clues
Where you
Get your news
It’s the internet
If I had to choose
With conspiracy theories
By twos

It isn’t
A mystery
And all can
Plainly see
It’s the First Amendment
That’s key
Which I can pointed out
If need be

And as long
As it’s around
Certain things
Are bound to go down
False news
That exists to confound
In doses
That can make you  drown

Nothing beats
An errant tweet
That folks
Sometimes repeat
Often before
They delete
After laying it
At our feet












Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Same *** marriage
We realize
Isn’t acceptable in
Some folks eyes
They view it as unholy
And also unwise
But it’s homophobia
That we should despise

Who are we to say
Who they should love
There’s only one judge
And it’s God above

Same *** couples
Share a common bond
With other lovers
Who correspond
To love’s imperative
That has spawned
A feeling that’s deep
And goes far beyond

Who are we to say
Who they should love
There’s only one judge
And it’s God above

Who give us
The right to say
What they should do
Anyway
If there’s a penalty
For them to pay
We won’t sit in judgment
On their judgment day

Who are we to say
Who they should love
There’s only one judge
And it’s God above

Those who oppose
LGBT
Simply because
They disagree
Have a right
To their opinions
But that doesn’t mean
They have dominion

Who are we to say
Who they should love
There’s only one judge
And it’s God above





Cedric McClester, Copyright © 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

I believe hope springs eternal
With faith measured by the kernel
We can get past this infernal
If we get cooking with some Sterno
Can we turn it all around
When we commit to get down
All kinds of solutions can be found
So I’ll continue to expound

We can over come they sang
While shooters went bang bang bang
But not from the members of a gang
Out of the darkness from which they sprang
So I’ll remain an optimist
Not just a complainant who ***** his fist
I know that ignorance is bliss
But at all costs that’s what we must resist

If there’s a need for a paradigm
James Baldwin called it the fire next time
While city officials called it a crime
We can’t repeat it time after time
But I’m encouraged by what I see
From the populace and the powers that be
I don’t know if that’s just me
Cos I see a positive destiny

The commentator called for peace and calm
While the Nation of Islam called an alarm
And members of the clergy said do no harm
Let’s march in protest arm and arm
I know that we can find a better way
Than the tragic displays of yesterday
Because everybody’s gonna have their say
See I believe in time it’s gonna be okay




Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

We’ve been here before
Dead students on the floor
I’ve been keeping score
I refuse to anymore
Politicians still must run
But nothing ever gets done
Cos it’s never their loved one
Who’s the victim of a gun

It doesn’t make much sense
That we’re always in suspense
Wondering when the next offense
Will occur in the future tense
But we know **** well it will
Someone with the urge to ****
Is gonna find some blood to spill
Haven’t we been through this drill

So the question we must ask
Before another gun man blasts
And flags are flown half mast
Is who’s up to the task
Who will have the courage to
Pass a law so me and you
Will have the comfort level due
Tell me do you have a clue

Why do we keep coming here
Out of sadness and out of fear
By now it should be very clear
That it won’t magically disappear
Until we learn to change our ways
This kind of violence just replays
It’s commonplace nowadays
The shooter goes out in a blaze



Cedric McClester, Copyright (C) 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Hatred decked out
In free speech finery
Isn’t opaque
It’s clearly binary
Give us a break
‘Cos we can see
How it’s directed
At you and me

On the surface
Hatred would appear
To have an objective
That's not very clear
To anyone other than
Those who might share
In the ultimate goal
Of its puppeteers

By another name
Like free speech
It's hatred no less
Listen while I teach
Because it's a game
That must be impeached
By those who'll make the claim
That it’s only free speech

Hatred is subterfuge
Which is implicated
By how it is used
It's easy for us
To become confused
But it's still a tactic
That's often abused
Think of it as a convenient ruse


Cedric McClester, Copyright (c)  2016.  All rights reserved.

By:Cedric McClester

I felt like a prisoner of war
Tortured and abused
But I shoulda known before - it happened
I’d be used
All is fair in love and war
At least I’ve heard it said
I couldn’t take the pain no more
The pounding in my head

You triggered some things in me
That I never revealed
You could see far beyond
The layers that I peeled
So you went in very deep
Underneath my skin
Now the scars are what I keep
From that time back when

I felt like a prisoner
Locked away somewhere
Longing for a distant shore
And someone to care
All is fair in love and war
At least I’ve heard it said
I couldn’t take the pain no more
The pounding in my head

You can call me battle tested
All battered and bruised
After all that I been through
That should not be news
Experience is the best teacher
Or so I’ve been told
I tried hard just to reach ya
But you were much too cold

I felt like a prisoner
Locked away somewhere
Longing for a distant shore
And someone to care
All is fair in love and war
At least I’ve heard it said
I couldn’t take the pain no more
The pounding in my head

All is fair in love and war
At least I’ve heard it said
I couldn’t take the pain no more
The pounding in my head
I felt like a prisoner
Locked away somewhere
Longing for a distant shore
And someone to care



Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

To him life was one great big party
He lived it like Bobby Brown
Though he wasn’t the king of R&B;
He became the talk of the town
He married a girl much like Whitney
Who earned above his means
It was a shame and a pity
How he’d put on all kinds of scenes

Life can be a revelation
Especially when it crushes your dreams
And some people seek salvation
Through necessity or by any means

He was caught up in the world-wind
The glamour and glitz proved too much
For her it came to a real end
When the drugs had ‘em both out of touch
The combination proved to be lethal
Between love and the need for a drug
It can happen to certain people
Who probably could use a strong hug

Life can be a revelation
Especially when it crushes your dreams
And some people seek salvation
Through necessity or by any means


If this is sounding cautionary
Maybe that’s because it is
A warning that’s a little scary
Kinda makes you say gee ****
Life can be a revelation
Especially when it crushes your dreams
And some people seek salvation
Through necessity or by any means

If you’re lookin’ for a happy ending
It’s not gonna happen here
Because the message I’m sending
Is meant to cause sadness or fear
She had a tragic ending
And he went on his merry way
What would be the use of pretending
Cos she isn’t here today

Life can be a revelation
Especially when it crushes your dreams
And some people seek salvation
Through necessity or by any means




Cedric McClester, Copyright 9C0 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

They’re actin’ as if
The poor don’t exist
But that’s a myth
That we’re livin’ with
The poor are expanding
But they aren’t commanding
The attention they should
And that can’t be good

The rich are getting richer
While the poor get poorer
Because some people have
A built-in ignorer

A risin’ boat lifts
Those who are adriftt
But they’re actin’ as if
A job is a gift
No wonder we’re miffed
We’re getting short shrift
And we’re being ignored
So our anger is stored

The rich are getting richer
While the poor get poorer
Because some people have
A built-in ignorer

They’ve got our goad
So if we explode
Then they shoulda knowed
How that would bode
See the rich are getting richer
While the poor get poorer
Because some people have
A built-in ignorer

They’re actin’ as if
We’re not at a cliff
Or adrift on a skiff
And the tide has to shift
Cos we deserve more
Or what’s it all for
Being rich at the core
While ignoring the poor

The rich are getting richer
While the poor get poorer
Because some people have
A built-in ignorer


Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

He’s my consolation
And he might be my end
You see me and John Barleycorn
Are the best of friends
I have to turn to someone
When my long day ends
And so me and John Barleycorn
Are the best of friends

Some people say be careful
Cos he packs quite a kick
And others say – watch out
Cos he can make you sick

But he’s always there
Time and time again
When I need a pick me up
I can count on him
Ya see he never fails me
I’m telling you my friend
I just have to raise my glass
And all my problems end

(Chorus)
Some people say be careful
Cos he packs quite a kick
And others say – watch out
Cos he can make you sick

I’m aware of the danger
That our friendship poses
But here’s the thing I feel
That nobody knows is
All the comfort I derive
From him being there
He has the ability
To take away despair

Some people say be careful
Cos he packs quite a kick
And others say – watch out
Cos he can make you sick

I know that they talk about us
They do it all the time
But us being the best of friends
Hardly is a crime
It’s a special relationship
That we happen to enjoy
And I’m just being candid
Instead of being coy

Some people say be careful
Cos he packs quite a kick
And others say – watch out
Cos he can make you sick

He’s my consolation
And he might be my end
You see me and John Barleycorn
Are the best of friends
I have to turn to someone
When my long day ends
And so me and John Barleycorn
Are the best of friends

By: Cedric McClester

My future options are in doubt
With unemployment runnin’ out
Don’t wanna go that outlaw route
But I’m close to it - just about
See I’m another sad statistic
Though the President is optimistic
I hope somehow that he can fix it
Cos I don’t know if I can risk it

If I had a job to call my own
I wouldn’t feel so all alone
I’d work my fingers to the bone
But that pipe dream is clearly gone

You could say my hand’s been forced
Because my job has been out sourced
I’m not the only one of course
Who’s talked about this till they’re hoarse
Although the numbers hardly moved
The situation has improved
The future’s ours to win or loose
It’s no wonder I’ve turned to *****

If I had a job to call my own
I wouldn’t feel so all alone
I’d work my fingers to the bone
But that pipe dream is clearly gone
I’m havin a Palin moment
Cos I feel stuck
I’m close to sayin’ what the f--k
So why don’t you just wish me luck
Or pass the hat I need a buck


If I had a job to call my own
I wouldn’t feel so all alone
I’d work my fingers to the bone
But that pipe dream is clearly gone

And though my situation seems dire
The President knows how to inspire
Now I just need to be hired
Cos I would never call him a liar
I know the man is well intended
Though unemployment has not been ended
I just hope it gets rescinded
Or somehow Constitutionally amended

If I had a job to call my own
I wouldn’t feel so all alone
I’d work my fingers to the bone
But that pipe dream is clearly gone

My future options are in doubt
With unemployment runnin’ out
Don’t wanna go that outlaw route
But I’m close to it - just about
See I’m another sad statistic
Though the President is optimistic
I hope somehow that he can fix it
Cos I don’t know if I can risk it



Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Don’t drink the elixir
That he’s trying to sell
If you start believing him
He'll catch you in his spell
Avoid the snake oil salesman
At all and any cost
If you follow his advice
You’ll truly be lost

He’s a snake oil salesman
Traveling state to state
Trying to sell his portion
That you're gonna learn to hate

(2nd Verse)
Don’t drink his elixir
Though pleasant to the taste
Some have bought it wholesale
Others by the case
Don’t believe the claims
The snake oil salesman makes
He’ll say or do anything
That he thinks it takes

He’s a snake oil salesman
Traveling state to state
Trying to sell his portion
That you're gonna learn to hate
He’ll never reveal what’s inside
Of his opaque bottle
But he wants you to take the ride
While he goes full throttle

He’s a snake oil salesman
You better heed my warning
It might be too late
Once you’re underneath his awning
He’s a snake oil salesman
I’ve told you once before
Cuz it’s at your own peril
If you choose to ignore

He’s a snake oil salesman
Traveling state to state
Trying to sell his portion
That you'll learn to hate

Don’t drink his elixir
Though pleasant to the taste
Some have bought it wholesale
Others by the case
Don’t believe the claims
The snake oil salesman makes
He’ll say or do anything
That he thinks it takes






Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Bitter or better
It’s my choice you see
I’ve been bitter so long
But where’d that get me
It didn’t make me happy
I have to confess
So I’m trying to be better
I’m doing my best

Bitter or better
Is a matter of choice
And I’ve made mine
So I’m raising my voice
Bitter always left me
With eyes that were moist
So I’m opting for better
As an alternate choice

Bitter or better
Take it from me
You can choose which one
You wanna be
Maybe you can’t forget
But can you forgive
Because being bitter
Just ain’t no way to live

Bitter or better
Is a matter of choice
And I’ve made mine
So I’m raising my voice
Bitter always left me
With eyes that were moist
So I’m opting for better
As an alternate choice

Bitter or better
Are alternate states
Bitter can have you carrying weights
Better wins hands down in debates
And it doesn’t require as many crates

Bitter or better
Is a matter of choice
And I’ve made mine
So I’m raising my voice
Bitter always left me
With eyes that were moist
So I’m opting for better
As an alternate choice

Bitter or better
As the case might be
Which one do you choose
You know about me
It’s your decision
So which it will be
Is it gonna be the devil
Or the deep blue sea

Bitter or better
Is a matter of choice
And I’ve made mine
So I’m raising my voice
Bitter always left me
With eyes that were moist
So I’m opting for better
As an alternate choice

Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

First the rhetoric then the violence
Can we have a moment of silence
From hateful words and the alliance
Of wing-nuts urging defiance

Corporations control the people
Now it’s turned violent and gotten evil
They’ve akin to the boll weevil
Destroying lives of common people
The rich direct the politics
With their lies and ***** tricks
Then add sound bites into the mix
And it confuses average hicks

First the rhetoric then the violence
Can we have a moment of silence
From hateful words and the alliance
Of wing-nuts urging defiance

A Congresswoman went to town
Only to have been shot down
The bullet casings on the grown
Suggests he fired round after round
Now that’s no way to disagree
Or show his anger as the case may be
See what it is he didn’t see
He’s been manipulated like you and me

First the rhetoric then the violence
Can we have a moment of silence
From hateful words and the alliance
Of wing-nuts urging defiance
It’s a time of sadness and remorse
For the demise of civil discourse
At the bidding of the boss
We now holler until we’re hoarse

Are you beginning to get the picture
They’ve become a permanent fixture
Add politics into the mixture
And their bromide is no elixir
For the things that clearly ail
Their prescription is made to fail
See the argument has turned stale
Cos all they do is to assail

First the rhetoric then the violence
Can we have a moment of silence
From hateful words and the alliance
Of wing-nuts urging defiance



Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Ya see the actual fact is
At times it’s not attractive
When we’re called to be proactive
Cos the atmosphere’s refractive
As if an insurmountable force
Things have suddenly changed course
And the protagonist has no remorse

Like the bullets a shooter packs
Or a freight train off the tracks
A reactionary reacts
Only to established facts

Don’t cha find it kinda strange
That we still argue climate change
After all those hurricanes
You’d think by now we’d use our brains
We’ve been shaken yet not stirred
Sumthin’ had to have occurred
Though silence is preferred
It should make us say my word

Like the bullets a shooter packs
Or a freight train off the tracks
A reactionary reacts
Only to established facts
And the argument’s been made
By the price already paid
For the groundwork to be laid
So our planet can be saved

So by now I think its clear
Just check out the atmosphere
Global warming would appear
To be already here
So it shouldn’t take much more
For the doubter to be sure
That the ozone layer’s core
Is sumthin we cannot ignore

Like the bullets a shooter packs
Or a freight train off the tracks
A reactionary reacts
Only to established facts

Ya see the actual fact is
At times it’s not attractive
When we’re called to be proactive
Cos the atmosphere’s refractive
As if an insurmountable force
Things have suddenly changed course
And the protagonist has no remorse




Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2016.  All rights reserved.

By: Cedric McClester

Remember when addiction
Was just a black and brown affliction?
Don’t you long for those Halcyon days
Before your kids picked up their ways
Before the face of addiction changed
And the situation got rearranged
We share more in common than you knew
Your kids are becoming zombies too

So as you seek to absolve ‘em
Hoping they can overcome the problem
You put on a happy face and pretend
That you’re not at your wits end
It’s an old familiar song
You asking, "Where did I go wrong?"
Because it’s becoming very plain
That the pain is just the same

Now addiction’s a major issue
So you grab another tissue
As you try to figure out
How did this thing come about
But the answer is elusive
Drug addiction is all inclusive
See it never occurred to ya
That it would take over suburbia

Don’t even bother to explain
I understand - I feel your pain
And the thing you fear the most
Is one day they’ll overdose
So you pray they never do it
That they never take you through it
And night after night you cry
Hoping that they will not die



Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2016.  All rights reserved.