no one’s here
to guard the quiet,
no voice to say enough
when the silence
starts sharpening.

i wish i didn’t need
a chaperone for my sadness,
didn’t fear
what i might do
when left alone
with my own hands.

I will find a way
to your heart
or die trying.

Beer cures what ales you,
A clever twist on thirsty lore;
When life's too bitter, just imbibe a brew,
And let that lager lore restore.

A pint of humour in a frothy glass,
Where worries stir but soon subside;
In every sip, let troubles pass,
While malt and mirth provide a ride.

So raise your mug and toast the day,
For every brew brings laughter anew;
When life turns sour, don't rue the fray;
Just cheers, and let your spirit spew!

May your woes be whisked away by ales,
And your laughs as bold as foamy trails.

Some folks say that God is Love.
Oh, my goodness! Then sue me for libel!
He doesn't sound very loving to me--
The god that you find in the Christian Bible.

It's mainly the Old Testament god
Whose loving aspects are hard to find.
Watch out or he will harden your heart,
Give you boils, or make you go blind.

In fact, he is insanely jealous
And proud to be so, the writers say.
Even look at another god,
And there is going to be hell to pay.

He can be quite petty at times--
Indifferent as to whom he offends.
He doesn't want you to eat shellfish.
And what's his problem with cotton blends?

Very often he is unjust--
Sometimes for neither reason nor rhyme.
Work on the sabbath and you should be ******!
Does that punishment fit the crime?

An unforgiving control freak,
He wants to micromanage us all.
And woe to you if you disobey him.
Look what they say he did to Saul.

A bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser,
He's truly worthy of being reviled
For telling his people to plunder towns
And **** each woman, man, and child.

Misogynistic, homophobic,
And very vindictive if you say no.
From sacrifices to wars and slaughter,
He seems to love to see blood flow.

Megalomaniacal,
He longs for glory and applause.
Cower when you stand before
The great and mighty Wizard of Oz!

For those who are unfaithful, he says,
Unless their evil rebelliousness ceases,
They will fall by the sword and their
Children will be dashed to pieces.

He often derives sadistic pleasure
In hurting those who don't adhere
To his commands and who do not
Sing his praises and live in fear.

Fear of what? Of retribution.
If you don't believe in him,
He threatens eternal punishment.
I hope that hell at least has a gym.

He always seems to be mean and angry.
Look how he treated the Philistines.
Acting like a malignant bully,
He isn't loving by any means.

A very unpleasant character,
Instead of a help, he's more of a bother.
I wouldn't want someone like that
To even be considered my father.

If you don't believe me, then you
Should read the Bible and you will see
How God in the scriptures is not so loving
As people make him out to be.

-by Bob B (5-20-25)

The love I had for you

Made the Gods jealous

But the pain you gave me

Made the Devil laugh

oh how I remember
when I was a kid
that I thought drinking
and driving
meant any kind of beverage
and got so nervous
when I saw my parents
drinking water
while driving
oh how I remember
how I innocent
and naive
I was