Take a look around
And tell me what you see.
Do you see a country
Where everyone is free?

Do you see the people
United in a land,
Where people of all color
Are walking hand in hand?

Do you see a church
Where years ago inside
Dynamite exploded
And four young girls died?

Do you see a counter
Where people were not served--
Where unjust laws determined
What certain folks deserved?

Do you see a street
Where protesters were sprayed
With high pressure hoses
While they marched and prayed?

Do you see a window--
If not, take closer note--
Where folks were turned away--
Were told, "You can't vote!"?

Do you see a house
Not everyone could buy
Unless they "qualified"?
Hmm. I wonder why?

Do you see a job
Where privilege preordained
Who'd be hired? Of course.
The practice was ingrained.

From out of the darkness emerged
A beacon, a shining light:
A man who offered us
A peaceful means to fight.

But while we've moved forward,
We keep stepping back,
For now voter rights
Again are under attack.

The long walk for freedom
Is not an easy walk.
Justice is also threatened
By insensitive talk.

For ugly, hateful rhetoric
Stirs the hard of heart
To act in unjust ways
Where reason plays no part.

Understanding, compassion,
And love should be our guide.
Let them push both hatred
And prejudice aside.

Stay on the path to justice
Even though it may seem
That roadblocks get in the way.
Don't give up the dream.

-by Bob B (1-15-18)

They marched together; they marched strong,
With flags, signs, and banners waving.
They marched in sun, snow, and rain
To speak out for rights and causes worth saving.

The Women's March on Washington
Became a world phenomenon
Occurring on seven continents.
May the powerful memory live on!

Women, men, and children with
Determination undeterred
Peacefully rallied together,
Letting their mighty voices be heard.

Echoing through the cities' canyons
And filling city parks and squares,
Their voices loudly demanded that leaders
Listen to democracy's heirs.

When people's rights are under attack,
When greed-driven politicians
Bow to Wall Street and corporations,
Ignoring the struggling people's petitions,

The people then must raise their voices
And hope that their peaceful protest starts
A major shift in understanding--
A positive change in lawmakers' hearts.

The protesters clearly spoke:
We must protect democracy
From the threatening ravages
Of plutoc-, corpoc-, or kakistocracy.

They'll march again in 2018.
They'll march to show that it has never
Been more urgent, for now there are
More reasons to march than ever.

Onward, marchers. Don't give up.
You have a voice; let it ring
From east to west, from north to south.
Sing out, people! Sing! Sing!

(1-22-17, 1-13-18) By Bob B

*This is an update and reposting of my Jan 2017 poem

The White House sent senior adviser
Stephen Miller to CNN
To blast the recent publication
FIRE AND FURY. Once again,

Jake Tapper must know when they
Invite White House racist slime
To CNN for interviews,
They're wasting both his and our time.

Miller merely had talking points
And wasn't there to be interviewed.
Seeing that it was going nowhere,
Jake Tapper became unglued

And stopped the interview altogether.
Trump tweeted that Miller destroyed
Tapper, but what else would we expect
From Trump, a man who lives in a void.

It's funny: it's not at all surprising
How Trump and his team, by hook or by crook,
Resort to using antics that
Confirm everything in the book.

They and Republican members of Congress
Haven't just been caught unawares.
All of them have drunk the Kool-Aid.
What a sorry state of affairs!

-by Bob B (1-8-18)

K.J.U.
Notice my long-range ballistic missiles--
Grand and statuesque.
And I have my own nuclear button
Sitting on my desk.

D.J.T.
I don't mess around with upstarts
And incompetent jerks.
MY nuclear arsenal is bigger,
And MY button works!

Plus, MY people like me.
What do you think about that?
Your people have no choice,
And you are short and fat.

K.J.U.
You live in an alternate world.
Why doesn't it click?
Most didn't vote for you,
You old lunatic.

THE REST OF US
Back and forth the children bicker
With verbal attacks and blame,
While we with mounting fear look on,
As pawns in their dangerous game.

-by Bob B (1-3-18)

(Try to imagine Donald Trump on a stage in a
tuxedo with a top hat and a cane.)*

(1)
"I've spent many years
On a stage of sorts.
Including all the times
I've spent in the courts.
But now I'm on the biggest
And grandest stage of all
And on a constant high,
Though not from alcohol.
Since being president
Is not an easy task,
To help me run this country,
There's ONE thing that I ask:

"Please…
Can…
You…
Give me a break?
Come on and
Give me a break.
They say to take it on the chin,
But hey! I never thought I'd win.
So give me a break.
Yes, give me a break.
For Pete's sake
Give me a break!

(2)
"People say they want
To see my tax returns.
Every time I hear that,
Oh, my stomach churns.
Buh-lieve me: no one's being
Taken for a ride.
But my financial matters
Are…um…classified.
There was no collusion
With Putin. Can't you see?
We JUST exploited his
Dislike for Hillary.

"So…
Come…
On…
Give me a break--
A beautiful break!
I will fix this world. And how!
You know I'm the cat's meow.
Just give me a break.
Yes, give me a break.
For goodness' sake
Give me a break!

(3)
"If Congress pats my back,
I'll give theirs a pat.
If Dems did, too, then I
Would hug a Democrat.
Loyalty’s important,
So if I get the urge,
I might just have to give
The FBI a purge.
I wish the prying media
Would try to be my friend
And write what pleases me.
Of course that would depend.

"If…
They…
Would…
Give me a break--
A big giant break!
I've the right to ridicule
Anyone I think a fool.
So give me a break.
Yes, give me a break.
For God's sake
Give me a break!

(4)
"So what if Flynn's a liar
And Spicer is a ****
And Bannon is a racist
And Sessions is a rube?
Ivanka and Trump Junior
Will pick up any slack.
I've got Kelly whipped,
And Sarah has my back.
I even have the white
Supremacists at my feet.
To stir up all my base,
All I do is tweet.

"ONE…
MORE…
TIME…
Give me a break--
A fabulous break.
Kim Jong Un has got to go.
Call me Mr. Dynamo!
Just give me a break--
A HUGE, gorgeous break.
Come on! Just
Give me a break!"

-by Bob B (1-2-18)

The year started out with a kick in the ****
With the inauguration of Donald Trump,
Which was overshadowed one day later
By the Women's March, which was many times greater.
Trump continued tweeting--his words and actions
Really amounting to nothing but major distractions.
He kept certain targets within his sights:
Immigration and LGBT rights.
Oh, and health care, too. Let's not forget
How many people and groups he has upset.
The year saw an increasing acceleration
Of the Mueller Russia/Trump investigation,
Which Donald Trump has constantly tried to defuse
By calling it a witch hunt and fake news.

Also as the new commander-in-chief he
Gave us a brand new word to use: covfefe.
Republicans who attacked their leader at first,
Later showed their feelings had reversed--
Especially those who will benefit greatly
From a horrible tax bill passed only lately.
(Some think that Putin has some dirt on them.
If that came out, wouldn't it be a gem?)
This year we saw the repeal of net neutrality
As we start to deal with a bleak reality.
Don't forget the Trump trip to the Far East,
Which ended up being a big flattery feast.
Many fear our safety is more unsound
As Trump and Kim Jong Un go round and round.

Trump boasts of how he's always hired
The best people; but notice how many he's fired,
Or how many have left his admin team!
A shoddy reputation is hard to redeem.
We've seen racism lift its ugly head,
And not denouncing it, Trump instead
Talked about fine people on each side!
He is constantly taking us for a ride.
Hurricanes in the South and in Puerto Rico
Brought great devastation to our eco-
System, and huge, destructive fires out West
Pointed to issues that must be addressed.
To show he's one of life's shining beacons,
Trump threw paper towels to the Puerto Ricans.

But Trump and fans continue to deny
Effects of climate change, and we know why.
Over 300 mass shootings this year°
Plagued our nation, but lobbyists persevere.
We saw the fall of many well-known men
For ****** misconduct, and once again
We ask why some men feel they're above the law
And wonder when they'll meet their last hurrah.
This is only the tip of the iceberg, true--
Only some of the hell that we've gone through.
A lot is happening in the world, but we,
Instead of seeing the forest, see one tree.
Let's NOT repeat this year to the letter;
Let's hope that 2018 is much, much better.

-by Bob B (12-31-17)

°tracked by the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive

Was Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens'
Christmas Carol purely fictitious?
No, Scrooges live today,
Equally greedy, cold and ambitious.

They represent Scrooge before
He earned our admiration and saw
That human compassion came only after
His ice-cold heart had begun to thaw.

His transformation showed him his former
Cruel disregard for humanity
And let him see that miserliness
Was nothing but a heartless insanity.

Modern Scrooges fail to see
The light of compassion that brightly outshines them.
Their greed prevents them from seeing the moral
Bankruptcy that clearly defines them.

They couldn't care less about
The hard-working and struggling masses.
Their main concern is that each law
That benefits the wealthy passes.

Some of these Scrooges you will find
Working in Congress, eagerly serving
Wealthy donors who give them money
And feel as though they're more deserving.

Creating laws to make their pockets
Overflow: that's their aim.
To them the parasitical poor
Deserve bitter contempt and blame.

One wonders if these greedy misers
Find it hard to resist the temptation
Of saying, "Then why not let them die
And decrease the surplus population?"

“Aren't there workhouses?” and “Aren't there prisons?”
Are what these Scrooges appear to say.
“Concerns of the poor are not our business;
Why can’t they just go away?”

Ebenezer Scrooge was lucky:
His transformation showed him the light.
Will wealthy Scrooges running this country
Discover compassion and be less tight?

-by Bob B (12-28-17)

It seems to me the HelloPoetry
Website is having a glitch.
I used to be able to upload all
Of my poems without a hitch.

Now I get an error message
Every time I try
To upload a poem to the site.
Why? Why? Why?

After a week I learned that each
Poem was saved as a draft.
And all along I'd thought the site
Was giving me the shaft.

I clicked on my "Poems," clicked on "Draft,"
And found the poem to "Edit."
(I know I'm not a rocket scientist,
But give me a little credit.)

I clicked on the audience, then hit "Save,"
And voilà! my poem was posted.
(Was I supposed to share this info?
Maybe I'll now be roasted.)

Anyway, I liked it better
Before this recent flaw.
Having to go through all these steps
Really sticks in my craw.

-by Bob B (12-13-17)

Hang in there, investigative
Reporters! Your work is cut out for you.
Help to be our eyes and ears,
And don't give up, whatever you do!

You have to work all the harder
When our democracy erodes.
When leaders silence your voices, imagine
The horrors that such a stifling forebodes.

Watch out for unscrupulous groups
Who try to discredit your needed work--
Who try to set you up for failure
And then sit by and smugly smirk.

Keep our corporations and our
Elected officials on their toes.
You say that no one's above the law.
There! You hit it on the nose!

Seek out corruption, abuse, and fraud.
Put our leaders' words to the test.
If there's suspicion, follow the money.
The one who laughs last, laughs best.

Authoritarian rulers dislike
A questioning, prying press. No wonder
They try to break you and call you fake,
Hoping you will knuckle under.

When people are manipulated
To criticize, attack, and doubt you,
Just remember, brave reporters:
Democracy CAN'T survive without you.

-by Bob B (12-23-17)

Dear illustrious Republicans in Congress,
You can run, but don't think you can hide,
As more Americans come to understand
How you've taken the people for a ride.

A tax reform bill you call it. Please!
Doesn't it more resemble a tax deformity?
Or better yet a vicious and outrageous
And monstrous act known as an enormity?

Something wasn't on the up-and-up.
Your great desire for secrecy underscores
The fact that you were hiding something big
When you wrote the bill behind closed doors.

Your suspicious need to rush it through
Made us wonder why you'd vote to embed it
In our system of laws when there were many
Members of Congress who hadn't even read it.

Hasn't the thought ever occurred to you
That one doesn't have to be a ****
To see your great desire to pass a bill
Before people could see how bad it is?

You'll make your donors happy; that is true.
Their money hasn't lost its strong appeal.
Now you have to convince the people you've *******
How they are all getting a wonderful deal.

What a bold redistribution of wealth
To rich Americans, who will benefit most!
You pulled off an outrageous scam,
And then you raised your glass and made a toast.

That millions lose their health care doesn't faze you.
The deficit? Oh, that's an easy fix.
You'll just target Americans' earned benefits.
(That's how Paul Ryan gets his kicks.)

Go ahead: throw us under the bus.
Expect, however, that people will verbally smite you.
Prepare for consequences of your actions:
Your callous decision will soon come back to bite you.

-by Bob B (12-20-17)

The sheep at the ranch were all in a dither.
They had to decide on a leader, and two
Candidates who stood before them
Worked on persuading each ram and ewe

To vote for them to serve as leader.
Working together, succeed they would,
Said one. The other said that if any-
Body could save them, he alone could.

For some odd reason, the second sheep
Won to all the animals' surprise.
The wool was pulled right over their heads
As he continued to propagandize.

"Do not listen to what others say,"
The newly-elected leader declared.
"Evil wolves are out there to **** you."
He was able to keep the sheep scared.

Some atypical sheep were skeptics
And didn't believe the leader's baloney.
They more they heard the leader speak,
The more they thought the leader was phony.

"Something is terribly wrong," they said.
"The leader's garb seems off-kilter.
He cares NOT a jot about us;
What's more, he speaks without a filter."

Gradually, sheep disappeared.
Their whereabouts was a stumper.
Meanwhile, their leader became
Louder, bolder, meaner, and plumper.

The sheep then chose one of their own
To see if the leader had major flaws.
He noticed that under the leader's clothing,
The leader had not hooves but claws!

Many sheep refused to believe
Their ruler was phony and not on the level
And blindly followed the leader's commands,
Basically signing a pact with the devil.

Too late they learned the problem of choosing
A leader filled with distrust and loathing
Who didn’t have their best interests
At heart--in short, a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Ah, poor sheep, if you had been
Careful not to have taken the bait,
You could have spared yourselves much trouble
Long before it became too late.

-by Bob B (12-18-17)

Five years now it's been since
A gunman stormed Sandy Hook
And killed twenty-six people there
In a cruel, heinous act that shook

The country--no, that shook the world--
And left everyone asking how
Such an event could occur.
But don't dare mention the sacred cow:

Guns in America and people who
Shouldn’t have them, and heaven forbid
That anyone bring up gun legislation.
We watch as gun lobbyists outbid

The rest of us, who sound the alarm,
Announcing a call to action, while
Legislators sit on their butts,
Afraid to act--refusing to rile

Donors, supporters, their base, and Second
Amendment fanatics, obdurate in
Their uncompromising approach to
An argument that's wearing thin.

Many people will never get over
Their indescribable loss and grief
From something that in America
Has become a recurring motif.

Twenty children and six adults
Were killed at the school. Don't forget.
And what's been done since then, despite
More shootings? Zilch, as of yet!

As we acknowledge the innocent victims
Of Sandy Hook, remember that prayers
Will not suffice as the only solution
For shootings for anybody who cares.

-by Bob B (12-14-17)

Despite voter suppression laws,
Alabamians voted for
A Democrat to serve in Congress.
Doug Jones beat Roy Moore!

A man who respects the rule of law
And built supporters' esprit de corps
Won a defining but narrow election.
Doug Jones beat Roy Moore!

The win hopefully sends a message
That actions are something we won't ignore--
That decency and respect matter.
Doug Jones beat Roy Moore!

When racist, xeno- and homophobic
Feelings ooze from every pore,
That person is unfit for office.
Doug Jones beat Roy Moore!

****** assaulters beware:
American voters are keeping score
As more victims speak out loudly.
Doug Jones beat Roy Moore!

May the movement for honesty,
Truth, respect, and integrity soar!
Keep alive the momentum of hope.
Doug Jones beat Roy Moore!

-by Bob B (12-13-17)

A lie has tremendous power
To trick, to dupe, to deceive,
Until people don't know
What they should believe.

Lies dealt profusely
Appear in varied capacities,
And artful dealers can make
Untruths sound like veracities.

Though they're sickeningly sweet,
Unctuous, and runny,
Lies can nonetheless give
The truth a run for its money.

A certain news agency
Dons a clever disguise;
And then as sly as a Fox,
It spreads its vicious lies.

Mendacious information
Insults the people that hear it.
History has shown us
That there's a reason to fear it.

We see all the time
That lies have a snowball effect
And gather more momentum
When they go unchecked.

When leaders resort to lying,
Though their words are disproved,
The people will live in *******
Until that leader's removed.

The truth can sometimes hurt.
Falsehoods, however, annoy,
Bear down on humanity,
Abuse, defile, and destroy.

-by Bob B (12-12-17)

Last December we saw that Santa
Had a FOR SALE sign on his "land."
Reporters went to find out whether
His property had been in demand.

"Well," said Santa, "I've had offers
From large fishing enterprises
Who want to move in and take advantage
As the ice melts and the sea rises."

The companies applied great pressure
To make Santa cave; instead he
Declined their offers, for overfishing
Had been a problem there already.

"Oil companies also want
My property in order to drill.
I told them, 'Over my dead body!'
Holy crap, if looks could ****!

"Once I thought that I could make
This work, but that was wishful thinking.
How could I survive up here
With animals dying and my land shrinking?

"Where there's tundra melting, methane
Gas is escaping into the air.
Rats from ships have entered the area;
You can find them everywhere.

"Sea currents and air currents
Both are bringing ugly pollution.
When are world leaders going to
Come up with a lasting solution?

"We are far away from large
Human populations, and yet
Our whole Arctic ecosystem
Is dangerously under threat."

Reporters noticed a weary look
Of sadness in Santa's face, which proved
That things were really affecting the man.
Where would he go if he moved?

"I thought that maybe in Switzerland
A nice, cold glacier would do.
But then again, maybe not,
For glaciers there are melting, too.

"Maybe Hawaii; maybe Tahiti.
That would be a change of scene.
I'll trade the slushy, melting ice
For somewhere colorful, warm, and green."

With that, Santa looked at his watch,
Said good-bye, and went back to work,
Trying hard to keep his thoughts
Away from places where phantoms lurk.

-by Bob B (12-9-17)

Some Republicans recently
Have managed to drop to a brand-new low.
People are seriously wondering
How much lower they can go.

Following the Donald Trump playbook
On how to degrade our institutions,
And listening to conspiracy theories,
They have come up with some shameful solutions.

A Fox News maniac,
Sean Hannity, stirs the ***.
If he can find a way to discredit
The FBI, he'll give it a shot.

Claiming that politics infects
Mueller's investigative team,
Hannity and friends are trying
To stop Mueller. What a scheme!

If Republicans create
Doubts in people, then by and by,
People won't trust any findings
Shared by the FBI.

Trump and some of his supporters,
By disrespecting the rule of law,
Put our freedoms in jeopardy
With their alt-right blah, blah, blah.

Rules, conscience, fairness, honesty,
And decency all go astray,
For these things don't matter to them
When obstacles are in their way.

Lamenting as institutions erode,
We watch an ever-growing kleptocracy
Spread its vile control, which threatens
The integrity of our democracy.

-by Bob B (12-8-17)

Senator Chuck Grassley from Iowa
Says that only the wealthy deserve
Major cuts in taxes. Don't
His callous comments hit a nerve?

Hard-working Americans
Deserve no breaks, for they choose
To spend their money foolishly
On--get this!--women, movies, and *****.

But rich Americans, he maintains,
Are the ones always investing
And not spending every penny.
He's dead serious and NOT jesting.

People like him are running this country
With vile contempt and tunnel vision,
Their idiocy and audacity
Affecting our lives with each decision.

-by Bob B (12-5-17)

The missionary wiped the sweat
That formed small beads on his sunburnt brow.
Never had he thought that learning
A language would be so hard till now.

But learning a language and studying a culture
So very different from his own,
Deep in the Amazonian jungle--
A damp and brutal climate zone--

Were challenges that he was eager
Because of his Christian faith to accept,
Even though he had to watch out
For poisonous creatures wherever he stepped.

His goal: to learn the language there
In order to translate the Holy Bible
So he could teach the truth as he knew it
To various peoples, godless and tribal.

His dual role as a servant of God
And graduate student studying linguistics
Opened his mind and heart to embrace
The people's diverse characteristics.

Constant threats were jaguars, insects,
And anacondas in the river,
Along with shifty river pilots
Transporting goods to trade or deliver.

After years of being there
And putting up with a bare subsistence,
He pondered why his ideas among
The people were met with such resistance.

Occurring to him suddenly
As an epiphany, he had to face
The fact that maybe he had been
Peddling his goods in the wrong place.

Why did he need to fix the people?
They were fine just as they were.
If he tried to change their beautiful
Way of life, what would occur?

They had faith in themselves and lived
Without worry, fear, or despair.
He was imposing his own concept
Of truth on them. How unfair!

Questioning his own ideas,
He clarified his own confusion
And saw that life without absolutes
Was one way to see through delusion.

How ironic! He'd gone to Brazil
With good intentions, though smug and prim,
To try to convert the people there;
They, however, converted him.

-by Bob B (12-3-17)

°Inspired by the experiences of Daniel L. Everett

Come on, guys. Use your noggins.
Don't think you could never be at fault
For inappropriate ****** behavior,
Such as committing ****** assault.

Don't let your status go to your head.
Not everyone is on the same quest with you.
Don't let your power make you think
That everybody else is obsessed with you.

For one thing, keep your clothes on until
You are 100 percent aware
That the other person you are with
Is interested in seeing you bare.

And never at the workplace, of course,
Or in the office or at work functions.
And never if either one is married!
How could you do it and not have compunctions?

Do not let delusions of grandeur
Make others have to look askance.
What it boils down to is this:
Keep your peter inside your pants!

Now if you are absolutely sure
That someone else wants to see it--
At the appropriate place, of course--
Only then can you unzip and free it.

Don't give coworkers creepy *** toys.
That sounds super gross and perverse.
But then telling them how to use them?
No, no, that's even worse!

Suggestive language, forced kisses,
Grabbing them by the private parts…
That's where respectful behavior stops
And inappropriate behavior starts.

Do not make unwanted advances
And fire someone who doesn't respond.
Don't think you're an accomplished magician
Who makes things happen by waving his wand.

Stop this ****** assault and harassment;
Develop respect for others and stay with it.
Lascivious conduct is tasteless and wrong.
(Only the president can get away with it.)

-by Bob B (12-1-17)

Christmas 2017
Approaches and Santa is checking his list
To make sure that he is on target
And also to see if errors exist.

"****!" the jolly man exclaims,
And quickly does a double take.
"It looks as though Republicans
In Congress want a big tax break.

"That is good for some; however,
Others will have to lose out for sure.
The biggest benefits go to the wealthy,
While help for the poor is miniature.

"I mean, the poor and middle class.
Most people should understand it's
Hard for me to justify
Helping a few to make out like bandits.

"Tax cuts for the corporations
Will be permanent, but what's scary
Is tax cuts for most Americans
Will only be temporary.

"They always scream, 'Deficit! Deficit!'
At least that's what they advertise.
By 1.4 trillion dollars
The deficit is going to rise

"With this bill! To make up the difference,
Later they'll cause more despair
By making major cuts to Social
Security and Medicare.

"While some will win, millions will lose
Health care if their tax bill passes.
Regarding trickle down, what trickles
Is negligible and as slow as molasses.

"From all that I have seen and heard,
Tax cuts don't create prosperity.
Don't the members of Congress know
Their bill is lacking in popularity?

"I want their holiday to be happy,
But how can I please everyone?
****! Sometimes being Santa
Is really NOT very much fun!"

-by Bob B (11-30-17)

It's Christmastime in Trumplandia.
The halls are decked with boughs of folly,
Ol' Frosty the Snowman is melting,
And sleigh bells are sounding melancholy.

The president has an abundance of hassles:
Ongoing investigations,
Failed attempts at accomplishments,
Embarrassments, and accusations.

He believes his supporting staff
Will help him work out all the kinks
And claims he's the favorite president!
Something is rotten in DC, methinks.

Wondering why he can't wield
More power, he disdains
Anyone who makes an attempt
To open his eyes or pull on his reins.

He'll pick a fight with anyone
Who doesn't give him flattery or praise.
Many devoted staff and supporters
Apparently share the leader's malaise.

Not trusting true experts,
He looks elsewhere for his muse:
At Alex Jones, Hannity,
Or the vicious harpy who haunts Fox News.

He says he hires the best people--
Not!--and knows what's best for the nation.
He's backing a candidate for the Senate
Who's been accused of child molestation.

His organization is raking in dough,
While Trump insists he's breaking no laws.
Why not follow the foreign money?
And what about the emoluments clause?

His favorite world leaders are
Autocrats who aren't so pleasant.
Their mutual ****-kissing will have to
Be their mutual Christmas present.

Santa Trump and his elves in Congress
Are working together in order to dole
Tax breaks out to the wealthiest, while
The rest of us will end up with coal.

Chestnuts won't be roasting on
An open fire this year. No way!
Our winter wonderland's become
A messy winter holiday.

-by Bob B (11-28-17)

Prancing along a jungle path,
A monkey found a curious box.
Not to investigate the contraption
Would be for him unorthodox.

A number of small holes had been drilled
Into the side of the box, so he
Could see inside to satisfy
His boundless curiosity.

The box contained a tempting nut.
If he could only reach inside
And pull it out! How marvelous!
If not, he'd be dissatisfied.

He put his tiny, searching hand
Through a small hole, grabbed the nut,
And tried to pull it through the hole.
The nut was way too big. "What?"

The monkey exclaimed. "It won't fit!"
What was the poor guy to do?
He sat with his hand in the hole for hours,
Frantically trying to pull the nut through.

Soon a trapper came strolling by
And found the monkey next to the trap.
He tossed the monkey--along with some others--
Into a bag and tightened a strap.

Off he went with his catch for the day,
Happy that he had taken great pains
To make good traps so he could supply
The restaurateur with monkey brains.

How much like the monkey are we!
We grasp onto possessions, views,
Our pride, our ego, our sense of self…
And though we suffer, we refuse

To let things go--to gently release
That which ultimately constrains us,
Closes our minds, hardens our hearts,
Blinds our eyes, or firmly enchains us.

-by Bob B (11-25-17)

Thanksgiving Day was fast approaching,
And family members and friends were cheerful.
At the same time, however, people
Were starting to feel a little bit fearful.

The holiday attendees were split
As to their feelings regarding the POTUS.
If he appeared on the TV screen,
They'd have to pretend to take no notice.

The day arrived and all were together,
Watching football and having fun
Talking about a myriad of topics--
Everything BUT that certain ONE.

The turkey was carved; the dinner was ready.
Every Thanksgiving's a major feat.
Grannie sat at the head of the mile-long
Table and yelled, "Come and eat!"

Food was passed this way and that way;
Mounds appeared on everyone's plate.
They all wanted to savor the food
But found that each new bite couldn't wait.

Suddenly, Grannie blurted out,
"STOP eating! Before you resume,
I'd like to talk about something important,
And that's the elephant in the room."

Aunt Margaret practically choked
While Uncle Bill patted her back.
Cousin Katie gulped and fanned
Herself, feeling the room go black.

The uncomfortable silence lingered.
Uncle Ernie kicked his wife
Under the table. The tension was so
Thick it could be cut with a knife.

"Why is everyone so uptight?”
Asked Grannie. "I'm sure you all agree
That it was time for a change, and so…
That's why I bought an SUV!"

Everyone felt a wave of relief
Pass through his or her body, and then
The sounds of delight filled the room
As everyone started eating again,

Saying such things as "Cool, Grannie!"
"Of course, Mother!" "I know I
Think you deserve whatever you want.
Now let's have some pumpkin pie!"

Thanksgiving Day went just as it should;
Nobody fought; no one was maimed.
We have a wonderful time when we don't
Talk about him who should not be named.

(11-22-17) Bob B

A crow sat on a tree branch holding
A chunk of cheese in her beak.
On top of the world was she. She thought,
"What a lucky streak!"

On seeing her, a fox decided
To use his expertise
To find a way to take from her
That scrumptious chunk of cheese.

Standing under the tree he said,
"Such a noble bird
Is almost indescribable.
It would be absurd

"To come up with appropriate terms
To celebrate your beauty.
But if I didn't try, I fear
'Twould be a breach of duty.

"So here's my attempt: Noble One,
Never have I seen
A more exquisite sight. Of all
The birds you are the queen!

"I'm trying to imagine how
Much pleasure it would bring
Us all to hear your gorgeous voice.
Noble Lady, sing!"

Flattered by the fox's speech,
The crow let out a caw
And dropped the cheese onto the ground.
The hungry fox cried, "Ha!"

And gobbled up the cheese at once.
"Perhaps your counterparts,
Would concur: you've got a voice,
But what you lack is smarts."

The moral is that flatterers
Will tell you what's untrue;
There might be a winner, but
The winner won't be you.

Sometimes even presidents
Can't seem to detect
The crucial differences between
Flattery and respect.

-by Bob B (11-19-17)

°An Aesop fable retold here in verse

"I'm an Alabamian
And proud to be one, too.
Nobody is going to tell me
What to say or do.
So, when it comes to voting,
I have got one rule:
Since I'm a Republican
And no, I'm no one's fool,
And also since the candidates
All have different aims,
I'll vote only for the ones
With R's next to their names.

"I don't care if you’re a cad;
You will toe the line
If your thoughts on God and guns
Correspond to mine.
You can be knocked off the bench
And thumb your nose at laws.
I don't know what you could do
That would give me pause.
Stealing from your charity?
Even that's fair game.
I will vote for you 'cause there's
An R next to your name.

"I don't care what you have done
In your cloudy past.
I don't care how many accu-
Sations you've amassed.
How you've treated women, well,
That is just your style.
I don't even care if you
Were once a *******,
Or if you blasted Muslims or
Transgenders with no shame,
You will get my vote 'cause there's
An R next to your name."

-by Bob B (11-18-17)

A neighboring star in our galaxy,
Only eleven light-years away--
Which really isn't that far if you
Listen to what astronomers say--

Is called Ross 128.
It's a red dwarf--one among many.
You might know about such stars.
Frankly, I hadn’t heard about any.

Red dwarf stars are stars that are
Very similar to that one--
They are smaller in mass, dimmer,
And live much longer than our Sun.

Orbiting Ross 128
Is Ross 128-b,
A planet that resembles Earth--
At least very possibly.

How amazing it is to wonder
When looking across the great expanse
Of the universe, if other forms
Of life exist! What's the chance?

Some astronomers are elated;
Others aren't, for it's not known
If the planet happens to lie
In what we call the habitable zone.

But if it does, and if it has
Intelligent beings, let's hope they're
More intelligent than we are,
Or they haven't got a prayer.

By the way, current technology
Could get you to the planet, but here's
The problem: the trip would take at least
One hundred forty-one thousand years!

-by Bob B (11-17-17)

Senatorial candidate
Roy Moore has fallen deeper
Into a mess of his own making.
The climb out is growing steeper.

A fifth victim has spoken up,
Accusing him of ****** assault.
Moore said the accusations
Were lies and he was not at fault.

Following the TRUMP PLAYBOOK
FOR ****** ASSAULTS, Moore claimed
That all the charges were fake news,
And he remained unashamed.

Strategy two: discredit the accusers,
Or act as though you never knew them.
Strategy three: threaten them.
Announce that you intend to sue them.

Increasingly, politicians
Feel that Moore ought to bow out.
Defiant, the candidate
Hopes his fans remain devout.

How could anyone vote him in
And afterwards feel content?
Oh, wait: despite accusations,
They voted in our president.

A watershed moment is happening here
As people say no and start to get tough.
No more covering up of rampant
****** assault. Enough is enough!

-by Bob B (11-14-17)

Alabamian Roy Moore,
Known as the 10 Commandments judge,
And whose reputation a conscientious
Person would certainly never begrudge,

Has been accused of child molestation--
Something that happened years ago.
But such incidents often surface
Many years later, as we all know.

For violating judicial ethics,
Twice he's been thrown off the bench.
His need for wearing a mask of morality
Is a thirst that he can't quench.

He's been quoted as having said
That 9/11 and Sandy Hook
Resulted because of God's vengeance.
His madness is hard to overlook.

He allegedly liked young girls.
At least that's what we have been told.
According to a recent report,
One was even fourteen-years-old.

Of course he denies it (of course he would)
And says it's fake news--a nasty plot
To smear his character. He wants us
To think that he is something he's not.

Alabamian voters, they say,
Will likely still vote for Moore,
And probably would even if
The man had accusations galore.

He speaks into his mic while standing
Before his fans in a cowboy hat.
They would prefer a *******
To--heaven forbid--a Democrat!

-by Bob B (11-11-17)

Environmental Protection Agency,
It's sad to see your cruel fate,
Brought about by someone who
Wants to make this country "great."

Since Donald Trump has been in office,
You are being obliterated
By the very industries
That you should have regulated.

Environmental regulations
Have been rolled back to such a degree
That consequences will be titanic,
And that is not hyperbole.

Lifting regulations to keep
Coal waste out of waterways
Is an unconscionable act,
Deserving of censure instead of praise.

Concerned voices of climate change
Researchers have been muted,
Even though among the majority
The phenomenon is undisputed.

Direct results from climate change
Are costing billions of dollars already
And add to making living conditions
On Earth all the more unsteady.

Your old title, EPA,
Has been replaced. Let us proclaim:
Environmental DESTRUCTION Agency
Is now a more appropriate name.

-by Bob B (11-9-17)

(A song-monologue on the first
anniversary of an election)

"Pretend that you care
Even if you don't.
Say you'll come through,
Even if you won't.
Surround yourself
With lackeys who will kiss
Your billionaire ***
Or else they'd be remiss.

"Pretend that you
Are richer than you are.
Keep on doing
What's gotten you this far.
Seek out help
From those who can provide
Ways to gather
Assets you can hide.

"Pretend religion
Means a lot to you.
Keep admirers
In your field of view.
They'll forgive you,
Even when you're rude.
They won't see
That they are being *******.

"Pretend your knowledge
Of history is vast.
Tell people your
Skills are unsurpassed.
If you remain
Stubborn and opaque,
Your fans will not
See that you're a fake.

"Pretend that your country--
Ever since your youth--
Has meant more than money,
Though that's not the truth.
Divisiveness
Works like a charm.
Lying won't
Do any harm.

"Pretend you're loyal.
Loyalty is grand--
At least until
Inquiries expand.
If your cronies
Ever cause a fuss,
You can throw them
Under the bus.

"Pretend that you
Are stronger than you feel.
Just keep on
Polishing your spiel.
Continue to threaten
To silence the news.
You as the leader
Can do as you choose.

"Pretend…
Just pretend…
Just pretend."

-by Bob B (11-8-17)

Another mass shooting has
Caused the deaths of twenty-six people.
This time the atrocity
Occurred under a church's steeple--

Not in a major city, but
In a small Texan community,
Showing that death from firearms here
Is an equal opportunity.

If four or more people shot
Or killed at a certain time and place
Defines mass shootings, then here they are
Happening at an alarming pace.

Three hundred seven mass shootings
Have taken place so far this year,
According to one report.
One thing's definitely clear:

Gun violence is out of control.
Acknowledging that is how one starts
To deal with a scary situation
That people think is off the charts.

When some want to discuss the matter,
There goes an altercation
As others accuse them of trying to
Politicize a situation--

Politicize a tragedy.
But frankly, when all is said and done,
Like it or not, the issue of gun
Violence IS a political one!

It would help if our leadership
Would deal with the problem directly and not
Placate donors and lobbyists
Whose self-serving baloney they've bought.

All countries have mental health
Problems; we’re not the only ones,
Says the president. So the problem
Is mental illness and NOT guns.

In all countries, mental health
Issues exist. No disputing.
But other countries do not have
The problem of shooting after shooting.

Thoughts and prayers for all affected
Certainly have a role to play.
But the bigger issue is something
That can't be simply prayed away.

-by Bob B (11-6-17)

This past Halloween week
In Washington was eerie.
For some in particular
The atmosphere was dreary.

Dressed up in their holiday best--
Though feeling somewhat slighted--
Manafort and protégé Gates
Both were indicted.

George Papadopoulos caused
Jitters and frustration
As proactive collaborator
In Mueller's investigation.

John Kelly's reputation
Has really started to slump
Since he's donned the costume of
A puppet of Donald Trump.

Kelly said--and this caused people
To gasp and roll their eyes--
The Civil War was caused by
A failure to compromise.

Compromise on slavery?
Tell me how that's done?
Instead of having forty-two slaves,
You get twenty-one?

Jeff Sessions’ costume made
The beholder have to guess
Whether it was perjury
Or handy forgetfulness.

Trump presented himself as a man
Whose memory is the best--
At least until reporters put
His memory to a test.

He laments that he can't do
What he wants, and that
Means not being president but
A powerful autocrat.

Republicans in Congress, dressed
As scary goblins and ghouls,
Put forth a tax plan, which
Changes many rules.

If you carefully look at their draft
And see through their pitch,
You will see their plan basically
Favors the very rich.

Halloween was far from being
Bland or ordinary.
One could argue that this year
It was downright scary.

-by Bob B (11-4-17)

So often we hear "Live the moment!"
"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,"
"You may delay, but time will not,"
And "Carpe diem!" or "Seize the day!"

Ah, such reminders cajole us,
Tease us, nudge us, make us reflect.
Alas, the wise admonitions
Always seem wiser in retrospect.

Flowers wilt; snows melt;
Mountains crumble by and by;
The universe is constantly changing:
Stars are born, while others die.

Acknowledging that everything passes
And changes, deep inside we hold fast
To stubborn longings of permanence--
To vain hopes that all will last.

-by Bob B (11-2-17)

Picture a traveler, journeying westward,
Having traversed mile after mile
A long road up hills and through valleys
But keeping his focus all the while.

All of a sudden, he encounters
An obstacle and doesn't know whether
He can continue. In front of him,
Two rivers are rushing together:

Extending north a river of water
Such as he had never seen prior
To that day; extending south
A spitting, spattering river of fire.

Dividing the rivers, there is a path--
A narrow one, five inches wide--
The only way for him to get
From one bank to the other side.

"Brigands and wild beasts are behind me,"
Gasps the traveler and lets out a cry.
"If I go back or stay here I perish.
But if I cross the rivers I'll die!"

He looks at the fiery, unending river
Extending south; then he looks north
At the raging, equally endless water
And says boldly, "I choose to go forth."

At times, waves of water surge
Over the path before him. And then
At other times, fiery flames
Scorch the path again and again.

He thinks he hears a voice behind him,
Urging him to keep going on.
Since he hears no other voices,
He wonders where the brigands have gone.

Coming from deep inside him perhaps
Or from the western bank a voice
Gives him greater confidence--
Gives him a reason to rejoice:

"Continue forward, traveler,
Sincere is your heart; single, your mind.
Grounded in right-mindedness,
You can leave your fears behind."

Then from the eastern bank he hears:
"Come back, or you will meet your death."
Offering empty promises,
The brigands only waste their breath.

Determined, our traveler keeps moving forward,
Knowing that all of his fears are groundless,
For once he reaches the western bank,
He is certain his bliss will be boundless.

The person who wrote the parable--
The venerable Shan Tao--explained
The meaning of every symbol therein,
But obviously, I have refrained

From saying too much. I have chosen
A way that's much more roundabout:
If you want to make sense of the story,
It's up to you to figure it out.

(10-31-17) By Bob B

°Based on the parable by Shan Tao (613-681)

Dear Russia, since you're
Already meddling in our affairs,
And seem to have experience
Dealing with slippery billionaires,

Could you maybe take a peek
At Trump's personal IRS files
And share all of his tax returns
With the use of all of your wiles?

People have been asking, but
The man has been disinclined
To share the information with us.
If YOU do it, he shouldn't mind.

For some reason (why could that be?)
A president who loves to barter
Won't do something that was done
By all presidents since Jimmy Carter.

If he has a good excuse,
He should tell us; we're all ears.
The audit excuse doesn't hold water.
And what about all the other years?

If there's nothing to cover up,
There's no reason to fear a chiding.
He's so reluctant to be transparent
That we keep wondering what he's hiding.

And since you in our last election
Were one of Trump's top promoters,
We hope you will help us out.
Yours truly, American voters.

-by Bob B (10-30-17)

The Mueller-led investigation
Continues. Everyone wants to know
If the findings will prove what many
People suspected a year ago.

So much suspicious activity!
So many meetings occurred!
How many shady dealings
With how many people were secured?

We hear that Cambridge Analytica--
The data firm for Trump's campaign--
Reached out to Julian Assange
(Tool of the Kremlin) to obtain

Documents stolen by
A foreign government to attack
Our voting process. And now look:
We're stuck with a megalomaniac!

It sounds very much like collusion
According to every indicator.
What about obstruction of justice?
Oh, well, that came later.

Meanwhile Trump continues to make
False or misleading statements each day
In efforts to bolster his base of support,
Confuse the issues, and lead us astray.

"I'm a very intelligent person,"
He likes to tell us again and again.
(Won't they have fun with that--
The commentators on CNN?)

What is happening defies belief.
The craziness was unforeseen.
Who ever knew the magnitude
Of Trump's propaganda machine?

-by Bob B (10-27-17)

Having a limit of only so many
Characters when you're tweeting
Means that you must be concise,
Which can be self-defeating.

Why so short? Is it that
People don’t delight
In spending too much time reading
Words that others write?

Can you remember the days when TV
Programs could be seen
Without obnoxious tweets being
Flashed upon the screen?

Or when the news was real news
And not simply a lot
Of tweets from viewers watching the program
And saying what they thought?

Who cares what the viewers think?
Just give us the news--
Credible reports filled with
Facts and interviews.

Trump loves his tweets, we know.
Through tweets he vents his wrath,
Although he sometimes comes off sounding
Like a sociopath.

Regarding his attention span,
Would it be so wrong
To say that it is only one hundred
Forty characters long?

Welcome to Tweetworld--a place where
Specifics are obsolete.
And heaven forbid that anything written
Be longer than a tweet!

-by Bob B (10-25-17)

One day a wealthy father
Decides that it is time to give
His privileged son a lesson on
How the poor actually live.

After spending a day and a night
On a poor, humble farm with his son,
The father asks on the drive home,
"How was your stay? Did you have fun?"

"Oh, yes indeed," says the son.
"They're very poor. Did you see?"
Asks the father. The son nods,
Having no reason to disagree.

The father continues: "Tell me what
You learned about being poor."
The son thinks and says, "We
Have only ONE dog; they have FOUR.

"In our garden, we have a fountain;
They have an endless stream that runs by.
Our garden has boring lamps;
They have all the stars in the sky.

"Our property stops at our fence.
To see beyond the garden is hard.
For them, on the other hand,
The entire horizon is their backyard."

The father doesn't know what to say.
Smiling from across the car,
The son says, "Thank you so much, Dad,
For showing me how poor we are."

- by Bob B (10-23-17)

°A popular tale retold here in verse

When critics say what you don't like,
Here's a simple solution:
Call them all untrustworthy,
And you'll get restitution.

Just call it fake news--
No matter what they say.
Help your fans to see that facts
Only get in the way.

Facts are inconvenient, so that's
Why you call them fake.
Acknowledging that you are wrong
Would be a big mistake.

If you play your cards right, then
The people on your side
Will not know or will not even
Care that you have lied.

You can easily spread your lies
To help you reach your goals
With the help of some of Russia's
Finest Internet trolls.

Colluding with other countries can
Also boost your chances
Of building a base of gullible fans
Despite the circumstances.

As long as fans do not see
That they are being played,
And you can turn them against the press,
You have got it made.

Just call it fake news--
No matter what they say.
Help your fans to see that facts
Only get in the way.

-by Bob B (10-21-17)

During Trump's campaign we saw
How very low the man could stoop
When it came to insulting any
Individual person or group.

The Gold Star family Khan, for example,
Received a heap of Trumpian abuse
As Trump blasted the family with
Insults, childish but profuse.

But even when Trump makes an attempt
To say the right thing, he still bumbles.
His team can pass him the ball, but then
The clueless president still fumbles.

He can have General Kelly
Speak in his defense, but then
On the next opportunity,
He'll stick his foot in his mouth again.

From someone in Trump's position we
Expect much more finesse, but alas!
In the meantime all we can do
Is say to ourselves, "This, too, will pass."

(10-20-17) By Bob B

Found all over the world,
And spreading the deadly views
Of hate-mongering preachers
From whom they get their cues,

Unchristianly Christians
Peddle their thou-shalt-nots
And never question the dogma
That slyly poisons their thoughts.

“It has to be right for you,
Since it's right for me.”
That’s what most of them think
Who judge to the nth degree.

If your beliefs are different
Or vary from theirs, forget
Heartfelt understanding;
You're too much of a threat.

Other religions, too,
Are certainly not exempt
From dangerous fanatics
Whose actions draw contempt.

Twisting the sacred scriptures
To suit their misinformed needs,
They act without perceiving
The shallowness of their deeds.

People are ostracized
And even lose their lives
When shameful ideology
Or noxious ignorance thrives.

And hypocrites abound.
We often hear of them--
The ones who criticize others,
Then do what they condemn.

How sad it is when people’s
Actions demonstrate
How little they love to love
But how they love to hate!

(10-19-17) By Bob B

People say Trump is "reckless," "unhinged,"
"Consumed by his dark moods,"
"Unfit," "unstable" and that he's like
A "tantrum-throwing child" that broods.

He's "unraveling," "losing a step…."
He's "dangerous for the country," too.
"Deteriorating on the job"
Has been said by more than a few.

White House staffers must protect him
From himself. And SO much
Chaos exists, that some say he
Has the "reverse Midas touch."

When he's behind a teleprompter,
The man sounds less obtuse.
But when he speaks off the cuff,
My goodness! all hell breaks loose.

So has the White House now become
An adult day care center? How sad!
Bush 2 is probably thinking,
"And YOU thought that I was bad!"

(10-12-17) By Bob B

Vladimir Putin had nothing to do
With THIS poem. Let me be clear.
(Nowadays it's hard to tell
How much the Russians interfere.)

Oh, of course, he could assign
An Internet troll to try to denounce me--
To criticize my rhythm and rhyme,
To shame, condemn, or verbally trounce me.

But Putin, alas, has many more
Important matters to address--
How to influence American elections
And cause confusion, more or less.

Long ago many Americans
Were troubled by the "Red Scare."
Now they welcome with open arms
This autocratic billionaire

Who stifles dissent, stomps on rights,
And benefits from corruption as well.
How many opponents has Putin
Disappeared? Hard to tell.

How people see the things they see
Is strangely and fearfully odd--
How they perceive a leader's illusion
And miss the monster behind the façade.

As more experts connect the dots,
They are wondering what protections
Can be implemented to stop
Outside meddling in future elections.

To quote Sir Walter Scott, "Oh,
What a tangled web we weave…."
How much more interference
Does Putin have up his sleeve?

-by Bob B (10-10-17)

Fifty-nine victims have died so far--
Children, lovers, husbands, wives,
Parents, siblings, cousins, friends….
Fifty-nine have lost their lives

To senseless violence: a mass shooting
In Las Vegas--a night of hell.
And nearly five hundred people
Attending the concert were wounded as well.

Read their names; read their stories.
They're the innocent; they're the ones
Who faced unspeakable horrors that
Occur when madmen have access to guns.

No, not merely access to guns,
But access to bump fire stock devices.
Does the "right" to such contraptions
Justify human sacrifices?

Are we surprised at the reaction?
In many a weapons showcase room
Or online site there has been
A bump stock sales boom!

At one time many people thought
That Sandy Hook would be the last straw.
Then came Orlando, and now Las Vegas.
Somewhere there's a serious flaw.

Donors grease the politicians'
Palms; lobbyists state their demands.
I would NOT want to be
A politician with blood on my hands.

-by Bob B (10-7-17)

Tim Murphy° of Pennsylvania--
Proud of his anti-abortion stance
And long-time anti-abortion record--
Was caught doing a different dance:

Murphy's former mistress wonders
How the man has reconciled
His pro-life pretensions while also wanting
Her to abort their unborn child.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, Mr. Murphy.
But maybe the cloud has a silver lining
When you step down from your position,
For word is out that you're resigning.

Oh, you hypocrites! You love to decide
What's good for other people. How true!
But you do what you **** well choose,
For rules do NOT apply to you!

-by Bob B (10-6-17)

°Congressman from Pennsylvania's 18th District

This poem is number 600
Of poems I have "published" on the Web.
My steady enthusiasm for writing
Poetry hasn't started to ebb.

That's six hundred since the spring
Of the year twenty fourteen. Okay,
I know I sound like a chatterbox,
But I thought I had a lot to say.

The process is electrifying:
It happens after I immerse
Myself in an ocean of thoughts and feelings
And out pop my comments in verse.

There's always something to write about--
Something to question, discuss or explore.
Some might say, "Enough! Enough!"
While others say, "Give me more!"

I've always admired a great poet
With a facile tongue and a flowing pen.
I'll never be a Shakespeare or Milton,
A Wordsworth, Keats, or Shelley, but then

That's not important. I'll still write poems.
If one of them strikes a chord that will be
Nice; but if a poem falls flat,
All I can say is, "C'est la vie!"

If there is a lull in my writing,
Do not fret, for goodness' sake.
I probably haven't kicked the bucket;
I'm probably just taking a break.

-by Bob B (9-5-17)

Fact-checking is meaningless if
People have no respect for facts.
Just watch social media and you
Will see how the public reacts

To natural disasters or shootings.
Conspiracy theories quickly abound
And suddenly the Internet is
An informational battleground.

Knowing the truth no longer gives us
A feeling of calm or a sense of relief,
Since few people have an incentive
For altering a false belief.

Experts say our psychological
Weaknesses are targets for those
Who spread misinformation for
Ideological ends. These pros

Know how to use the media well.
Their credibility's merely a ruse.
And suddenly the falsehoods are
Amplified all over the news.

Hacks and kooks and fringe group crazies
Have been around forever; it's true.
If there's a chance to spread their lies,
They do not miss a cue.

Fringe groups going mainstream. Yikes!
That's a recipe for disaster,
Especially when a gullible public
Eats up the nonsense faster and faster.

Orwell's 1984
For many years made us wary.
The year twenty seventeen
Is also looking ****** scary.

-by Bob B (9-3-17)

While on my walk I spied a flower
With huge petals, ruffled, yet tender:
A dazzling yellow-gold hibiscus,
Glowing with majestic splendor.

I couldn't help but stop and stare
At its striking beauty and gentle grace.
Not to acknowledge such elegance
Would definitely be a disgrace.

As I gazed upon the bloom,
I heard a quiet voice that said,
"They say it isn't nice to stare,
But go ahead…go ahead.

"Most people walk right by.
They see the flowers on the plant,
But their true ability
To grasp what they see is scant.

"Can you see me for who I am--
My individuality?
Or do all blooms appear as an
Anonymous totality?

"Yes, it's true that all of the flowers
Create a lovely impression together.
Think of gardens teeming with roses,
Fields of daisies, or hills of heather.

"But can you see my unique nature--
The deep essence of my being?
Am I more than merely one
Of many? Tell me what you're seeing."

Speechless, as though in a trance,
I stared awhile, then walked away,
Pondering every meaningful word
The beautiful flower had to say.

-by Bob B (9-1-17)

A heat wave has hit.
While some people are boasting
About their cool air,
In our house we're roasting.

Fans help a little.
But frankly I have found
That all they tend to do
Is blow hot air around.

People say, "Be cool!
No reason to fret."
Easy for them to say.
I hate to sweat!

I have to tell myself
If I'm crabby and terse,
That I should feel lucky.
Things could be much worse.

A wise man once said,
"Here's some food for thought:
When it's cold, be cold;
When it's hot, be hot."

Wise words, I thought.
I'll apply them now,
As I downed my water
And wiped the sweat from my brow.

Still, when winter comes,
I know my thoughts will teeter,
And you'll be sure to find me
Shivering by the heater.

-by Bob B (8-31-17)

Providing strength in diversity
And beautiful variety,
Like strands of gold woven into
The fabric of society,

Our Dreamers here greatly enrich
American communities.
How callous it would be to close
Doors to opportunities!

Their contributions to our country
Should NOT be disregarded,
Buried in forgetfulness,
Ignored, or even discarded.

They didn't come here on their own;
Their parents brought them here.
Whatever the reasons for the move,
One thing is clear:

Brought here at an early age,
They grew to look ahead
And now have fewer ties to
The countries that they fled.

You might be an American
Citizen, but do
You understand that Dreamers are
As American as you?

-by Bob B (8-30-17)