Far-right extremists have made
A film to promote their crusade.
It's just a stupid series
Of conspiracy theories.
So far from the truth they have strayed!

It's frightfully scary how some
Could do something that is so dumb.
Immune to reproaches,
Just like creepy roaches,
From out of the woodwork they come.

-by Bob B (5-10-20)

Life as we knew it has changed for now,
With concerts, theater, and sports on hold,
For COVID-19, a nasty virus,
Is NOT your typical flu or cold.

Daily life is a challenge lately.
Former routines are now a chore--
Little things, like going shopping
And bringing groceries home from the store.

So much that we took for granted,
We now see from a different perspective.
Functioning while saving lives
Has to be our main objective.

Every day it's coronavirus!
Every day it's in the news.
Day and night it's coronavirus.
I've got the COVID-19 blues.

The Center for Disease Control
Is muzzled by the current regime.
We hear White House "happy talk,"
But things are likely worse than they seem.

Trump and his White House staff all know
That testing is crucial--at least for them.
And yet they say that WE don't need it.
Misinformation with a capital "M."

We deserve expert guidance;
We need the truth and a workable plan.
We've heard one lie after another
Since this deadly pandemic began.

Every day it's coronavirus!
Every day it's in the news.
Day and night it's coronavirus.
I've got the COVID-19 blues.

It's hard to watch the public displays
Of ignorance and the flouting of rules.
Conspiracy theories are rapidly spreading,
And truthers continue to act like fools.

Although it's easy to feel depressed
When listening to the White House clown,
It's important that we do NOT
Let adversity get us down.

As much as I'd love to hug my family,
Go to the theater, and be with friends,
I will do my best to remain
Healthy until the danger ends.

But meanwhile, it's coronavirus!
Every day it's in the news.
Day and night it's coronavirus.
I've got the COVID-19 blues.

-by Bob B (5-9-20)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "Onward, Christian Soldiers.")

Forward, Trumpian warriors!
Off to war you go--
Off to fight a virus,
Marching row by row.
Trump, the royal leader,
From a White House room,
Calls for you to fight for him though
It could mean your doom.
Forward, Trumpian warriors!
Off to war you go--
Off to fight a virus,
Marching row by row.

When a deadly virus
Moves across a land,
We know gear to fight it
Has to be on hand.
Trump wants states to battle
Fully on their own.
He sends warriors to the front lines
Tweeting from his phone:
Forward, Trumpian warriors!
Off to war you go--
Off to fight a virus,
Marching row by row.

Trump says be a hero;
Make a sacrifice.
To keep money flowing
All must pay a price.
Your life for your country.
How's that for a deal?
To hear his priorities just
Listen to his spiel.
Forward, Trumpian warriors!
Off to war you go--
Off to fight a virus,
Marching row by row.

Trump says many experts
Have mistaken views.
He gets his advice from
His friends on Fox News.
While the people suffer,
Trump has fans like Mitch.
They will make for certain that the
Rich will still stay rich.
Forward, Trumpian warriors!
Off to war you go--
Off to fight a virus,
Dropping row by row.

-by Bob B (5-6-20)

According to Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm,
When Grandma wasn't feeling so good,
Mom packed up some wine and cake
And sent it with Little Red Riding Hood

To Grandma's house, deep in the forest.
Along the path Little Hood met
The hungry Wolf who ultimately
Taught her a lesson she'd never forget.

Having devoured Grandma, and now
Waiting to eat the grandchild as well,
The Wolf couldn't stop thinking about
Gobbling up the little belle.

We all know that Little Hood
Ended up in the Wolf's big belly,
Along with Grandma. It must have been
A place overly cramped and smelly.

A hunter came by and saved the day
By putting an end to the dangerous ****.
Grandma enjoyed her cake and *****;
The Wolf became the hunter's rug.

My favorite moral is as follows:
When Grandma is sick and lying supine,
To help raise her spirits, take her
A little cake and a bottle of wine.

-by Bob B (5-5-20)

The valiant tailor claimed to be valiant,
But he was mainly a phony, a fake.
Killing seven flies with one blow
Does NOT a super hero make.

But, oh, he thought a lot of himself.
Let's just say he was full of hot air.
His ego grew to such an extent,
He wanted his fame to spread everywhere.

Street smart he was--clever and wily.
He quickly learned how to con the crowd.
Winning by playing deceptive games
Made him feel accomplished and proud.

Subduing giants was not a problem
Since he had numerous tricks up his sleeve,
Like pitting them against one another.
His motto should have been, "Deceive!"

Inciting discord was part of his plan.
To make his point he also would tap
Into confusion around him, hoping
That his opponents would land in his trap.

The people never witnessed first hand
The valiant tailor's heroic acts.
All they had to go on was his
Side of the story--his made-up facts.

Through guile he won the princess's hand
And half of a kingdom. Becoming a king,
He rose to the highest level of
Incompetence. That was his thing.

Although the Brothers Grimm recorded
The story many years ago,
Doesn't the tailor seem familiar?
He sounds like somebody else we know.

-by Bob B (5-4-20)

Careless protesters gather together
In cities across the United States,
Criticizing stay-at-home orders
And thumbing their noses at the Fates.

Unmasked demonstrators stand
Only two or three feet apart,
Indicating a lack of caution
And showing us they are NOT being smart.

It doesn't help when the president
Encourages foolish behavior. What's more,
Far-right militia thugs show up
And look as though they're waging war.

Nobody cherishes not being able
To socialize with family and friends.
All of us look forward to
The day that social distancing ends.

Everybody wants to get
Back to normal as soon as we can.
But to do it we need to have
A thoughtful, safe, reliable plan--

A plan assembled by experts for whom
Saving lives is the main goal
In order to help us back on our feet
While getting the virus under control.

Ignorance is a poor companion.
When life throws us a wild curve ball,
Remember: people's stupid behavior
Endangers not only them but us all.

-by Bob B (5-3-20)

I’ve made it! Where? To poem one thousand--
"Published" for people to read online.
Every time I finish a new one,
I get a feeling that's hard to define--

Not because it's a tour de force,
A magnum opus, or masterpiece;
It's just the idea of letting thoughts flow
And then feeling a sense of release.

Call it a marriage of thoughts and expression:
That's what writing is tantamount to.
I sometimes wonder: do you find
A poem, or does a poem find you?

I still enjoy the challenge of rhyme.
Up to now that's been my choice.
After hundreds of poems, rhythm
And rhyme have helped me to find my voice.

I like to merge poems and songs,
So, often I write with a tune in my head.
Some of my critics ask me, "Aren't
Some things better left unsaid?"

Oh, no, no! I have to reply.
When life gives you a little nudge,
You let thoughts out, come what may.
But true, the reader will be the judge.

Since there's such a wealth of topics,
And time's no issue since I'm retired,
So long as my Muse inspires me,
I'll write until I am labeled "Expired."

-by Bob B (5-1-20)