When we see the tip of the iceberg,
One thing that we know
Is there is more--much, much more--
Iceberg down below.

The moon shines on the tip of the iceberg
Creating a silvery sheen
Of gossamer, or sometimes even
A heap of velveteen.

Beating down on the mountain of ice,
The rays from the glorious sun
Melt the surface. But in the meantime,
Damage can be done.

If you approach the iceberg, you
Approach what's "forbidden."
The dangerous part is not what you see,
But rather the part that's hidden.

The shadowy base of the floating mountain
Hidden from your view
Murmurs, "If you get too close,
There's a surprise for you."

The monolithic, towering berg
Will melt eventually,
And gone will be the dangers that
We weren't supposed to see.

Until it melts, be attentive.
Don't be deceived
By bluster and appearances
Not to be believed.

-by Bob B (8-29-17)

Isn't English fun to learn--
Especially spelling and pronunciation?
It's hard enough for native speakers
And is the cause of a lot of frustration!

Think of female deer, does,
And then the form of "do," "does."
Consider the "a-s" found in "as"
And how it is pronounced in "was."

We have ears on our heads.
Add a "b" and you've got "bears."
There's also "e-a-r" in "earth."
And a funny "e-i" found in "heirs."

Look up and see a star.
Add an "e" and you've got "stare."
That is not so hard perhaps.
But why does "stare" rhyme with "where"?

"Say" is easy to say, all right.
But add an "s" and you've got "says."
But if you add an "s" to "hay,"
You do not pronounce it "hez"!

Back to "where," which rhymes with "air."
But look at the "e-r-e" in sphere.
"I" before "e" except after "c"…
But what about the weird word "weir"?

"Tough" and "though" are always fun.
Then there's "through" and "ought" and "drought."
Don't forget to drop the "b"
When you say both "debt" and "doubt."

Throw in apostrophes,
And English teachers really have fits
When they are used for writing plurals
Or when "it's" is used for "its."

Forget all the silent letters
In words like "write," "knot," and "pneumonia."
If you said, "I made the rules,"
I'd have to say, "I disown ya!"

It wouldn't work to try to write
All the words phonetically,
For Easterners and Southerners
Don't say all the words like me.

For many years I've been around English--
Hearing, speaking, discerning it,
Exploring its countless nuances.
I guess I'll always be learning it.

-by Bob B (8-28-17)

Watch as Republican members of Congress
Hammer out the specifications
For tax cuts favoring the rich, along with
Giant cuts for corporations.

Though economic inequality
Reaches scary, outlandish extremes,
A system rigged against the majority
Shapes the politicians' dreams.

Bogus studies, lobbyists,
And lavish campaign contributions
Sway our politicians' efforts
To come up with taxation solutions.

Tax havens, loopholes, and dodges
Are great for you if you are rich.
When you can avoid paying taxes
On profits abroad, you've found your niche.

If our taxation system doesn't
Force people to pay their fair share,
Education and social security
Will suffer, along with Medicare

And Medicaid. If that happens,
It's not difficult to foretell
Who will benefit most and who
Hasn't got a chance in hell.

Do members of Congress care about us?
I have to say that it makes my blood boil
To watch them sell what some people call
"Supply-side snake oil."

Buy the snake oil if you choose to.
Unless you're rich, you'll regret it.
The system can ***** us royally,
But ONLY if the voters let it.

-by Bob B (8-27-17)

The president has caused a stir.
OH-ME-oh-MY-oh.
He has pardoned Arizona
Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

A man convicted of criminal contempt
Of court enjoys impunity.
He violated civil rights
At every opportunity.

Refusing to follow an order of the court,
He's a man who fudges
When it comes to obeying laws
And listening to judges.

The practice or racial profiling equals
Clear discrimination.
It looks as though it also wins
Trump's approbation.

He has called the bigoted sheriff
A "selfless public servant"--
A ludicrous description to
Those who are observant.

Is this one of many pardons
That Trump extends
To others as he pardons his
Family and friends?

Thumbing your nose at law and order--
OH-ME-oh-MY-oh--
Happens when you pardon crooks
Like Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

-by Bob B (8-26-17)

Karma is a *****, they say.
We still resist having to learn
That our  missteps have negative
Results that will happen in turn.

Afghanistan, in 1919,
Drove out the British. A definite win
For the landlocked nation. Sixty years later--
In '79--the Russians moved in.

We armed extremists to fight the Russians.
Now, how could that strategy not
Be effective in the long run?
No skin off our teeth, we thought.

The Russians left. Our job was over.
Afghanistan was in disarray.
Our lack of support for a country in shambles
Surely helped to pave the way

For the Taliban to take control.
Anti-American sentiment grew.
The country became a haven for terrorists.
It's useless for us to wish it weren't true.

For the past sixteen years American
Soldiers have fought an ongoing war
Against the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
The consequences are hard to ignore.

We’re caught up in a vicious circle.
We're stuck in a quagmire--a living hell.
To send more troops to a war we can't win
Is not an easy program to sell.

Have all avenues been considered?
Could the region ever be able
To find a peaceful solution by getting
All parties to come to the table?

We've gotten ourselves in a situation
Where little goes according to plan.
How many more people will die
From fighting in Afghanistan?

(8-24-17) By Bob B

Some people can be their own worst enemy.
Frequently, they tend to call attention
To their gross incompetence and act
Amazed when they're surrounded by dissension.
Perhaps it's just that they're oblivious
To their surroundings, or they do not care
About matters not involving them.
They're caught up in their self-love affair.
Their stratagem relies on subterfuge.
To achieve their desires, they deceive.
Their focus is NOT on what to give,
But rather on how much they'll receive.
One wonders if they'll ever pay the price
Of brushing off intelligent advice.

Being their own worst enemy, such people
Love to play the victim or the martyr.
Would it even faze them if friends said,
"You know, we really thought that you were smarter"?
How they love to catapult themselves
Into a situation and then claim
That everybody's out to get them! Then,
"Poor me!" they cry as they pass the blame.
The words "empathy" and "understanding"
Aren't a part of their vocabulary.
If you don't agree with what they say,
Then you become their hateful adversary.
What would it take to make it clear
That they themselves are what they ought to fear?

-by Bob B (8-22-17)

Try to imagine how it feels--
And this does happen, bear in mind--
To be told by another person,
"Sorry, but we don't serve your kind."

Try to imagine what it's like
To hear over and over that you
Cannot enjoy the same rights
That the majority of people do

Because of the color of your skin,
Beliefs, or ****** orientation.
Humankind is crippled by
Despicable discrimination.

You can apply faulty logic
And you can be falsely pious,
Using contrived arguments
To cleverly justify your bias.

Such sophistry comes to nothing.
Falling short right from the start,
It treats humanity with contempt
And reveals a hollow human heart.

What a wonderful world we'd have
If the whole human race
Embraced the powerful idea that
Discrimination had no place!

-by Bob B (8-20-17)

"Idealistic" might describe you.
In what you do, you excel.
But if your idealism gets out of hand,
Bid accomplishments farewell.

If you are idle and unproductive,
You might not have any objection
To blaming all your laziness on
Your failure to achieve perfection.

You tend to be shy and not seek glory
And prefer to let others receive attention
While you work in the background, which gives
Your character an added dimension.

Though you respond to the needs of others,
Be aware of the adjuration
To always be on guard, for you
Are vulnerable to exploitation.

You make an excellent critic and want
To improve the world--to help and protect.
But you can also act the martyr
If things don't go the way you expect.

You find communication important
And can be talkative, or chatty.
But don't be overcritical
Or fussy, or you'll start to sound catty.

You're a practical person and you're
Inclined to move with a measured pace.
Not to attempt to perfect whatever
Skills you have would be a disgrace.

Routine is not a problem for you.
If your efforts are justified,
You can endure endless details
And complete your tasks with marvelous pride.

"Health conscious" also describes you.
Though sometimes you can worry a lot,
You're not easily discouraged, and so
Give your priorities all that you've got.

You're always busy and occupied
With projects, but don't go overboard.
For you, things of a practical
And helpful nature strike a chord.

Your analytical skills are amazing.
So is your love for books and learning.
Irresponsibility
And sloppiness can be concerning.

You'd be great in the medical field,
In social work, or in teaching.
Stick with the "real world"
And your efforts will be far-reaching.

-by Bob B

In 1961 nine students
Crossed over the boundary line
Of segregation. Those students
Are known as the Tougaloo Nine.

The place: Jackson, Mississippi.
March 27, the day.
The long battle for civil rights
Had already been underway.

One student walked to the counter
And very politely asked for a book
That wasn't available elsewhere. Boy!
Did she get a ***** look!

The students were told they didn't belong there.
There would be trouble unless they departed.
They could go to the "colored" branch.
That is when the read-in started.

Arrested and taken to jail, the students
Couldn't call for legal assistance.
They were kept there overnight
And rudely grilled for their passive resistance.

Police were waiting with dogs by their sides
And clubs in their hands on the day of the trial
To roughen up the students' supporters
With some authoritarian bile.

In front of the library now stands
A freedom marker in recognition
Of nine who traveled the freedom trail
And faced bitter opposition.

Obstacles remain in the path.
The struggle is far from over. We must
Honor courageous people before us
And fight for laws that are fair and just.

-by Bob B (8-19-17)

Let's call it what it is
And NOT cater to far-right haters--
Neo-Nazis, white supremacists,
And KKK demonstrators--

Who in polo shirts and carrying
Tiki torches in the night
Proclaim to us that expressing their hatred
And bigotry is their right.

Let's not legitimize
Efforts to take us back in time--
Efforts to recultivate
A prejudicial paradigm.

Trump and his administration
Of nativists and alt-right advisers,
Have openly given a green light to
Racist rally organizers.

Fringe groups that were somewhat obscured,
Have stepped into the light of day,
Emboldened by what irresponsible
Leaders might say or not say.

People were injured in the discord;
A counter demonstrator was killed.
Let's not allow desires for odious
Racial injustice to be fulfilled.

A president who says he wants
To make American great again
Is really much better at
Making America hate again.

-by Bob B (8-16-17)

So you trust that the Wizard
Will get you home again?
When you're left behind,
What will you do then?

Many see the Wizard
In different manifestations
And fail to recognize
The charlatan's limitations.

Is he a giant head,
Full of fury and ire?
Is he a heartless monster
Or a raging fire?

Don't you realize
You've made a huge mistake
By putting all your trust in
A flimflam man, a fake?

The show fools many
Who don't see past the façade--
Who scorn others who try
To open their eyes to fraud.

He doesn't want the people
To see what he really is--
To see how he has managed
To acquire all that's his.

He will try to convince you
That what he sells you is fair.
Then one day your find
He's nothing but hot air.

Just be grateful when--
And it couldn't happen too soon--
The sly, slippery Wizard
Sails off in his hot air balloon.

-by Bob B (8-12-17)

Praise to the leakers who take a risk
To rout out corruption, wrongdoings, and lies.
We have the right to know the truth.
A thousand thanks for opening our eyes.

Praise to the investigative press--
Brave, ubiquitous, and alert.
Exposing deceit and hypocrisy means
Sometimes having to dig up dirt.

Praise to the heroes who fight for our rights,
Exposing themselves to insults and scorn.
We take for granted most of our freedoms,
The loss of which one day we could mourn.

Praise to all the defenders of truth.
Don’t be bullied into submission.
Your vigilance will guide us when
Integrity suffers from malnutrition.

-by Bob B (8-9-17)

(Sung to the tune of "Home on the Range")

I hope there's a place where the whole human race
Can survive the weather extremes--
Where most of the herds don't ignore experts' words,
And we ALL have clean rivers and streams.

Chorus:
Home here on the earth,
Where we all want to live out our dreams--
Where it would be strange to deny climate change
And life's not as bleak as it seems.

When certain ******* don't restrict greenhouse gases
And they couldn't care less 'bout the earth
And they cause many schisms with trite euphemisms,
They ignore the planet's true worth.

Chorus:
Home here on the earth,
Where we all want to live out our dreams--
Where it would be strange to deny climate change
And life's not as bleak as it seems.

When the USDA says starting today
Saying "carbon" is strictly taboo,
Their major concerns are the greatest returns,
And to hell with what might be true.

Chorus:
Home here on the earth,
Where we all want to live out our dreams--
Where it would be strange to deny climate change
And life's not as bleak as it seems.

When the experts say, "Wow, we are feeling it now,"
And they watch the ice melt at the poles,
You don't have to be a genius to see
The importance of certain controls.

Chorus:
Home here on the earth,
Where we all want to live out our dreams--
Where it would be strange to deny climate change
And life's not as bleak as it seems.

-by Bob B (8-8-17)

Fifty-two years ago
The people of the US saw
President Lyndon Johnson sign
The Voting Rights Act into law.

Our leaders and our Supreme Court
Have since struck down important protections
That came with the VRA,
Affecting our freedom and future elections.

Our right to vote is under attack--
A blow in the gut to Uncle Sam.
The president's new Voter Fraud
Commission is real sham.

Applying more obstacles
That make it harder for people to vote
Is not conducive for keeping our
Democratic values afloat.

The reasons for the assaults on our rights
Are obvious and calculating.
Believers of democracy
Should find them all infuriating.

It's sad and scary to see our leaders
Limit our rights with no remorse.
But clearly for our president,
That, good people, is par for the course.

(8-7-17) By Bob B

All is not well in Trumplandia we hear.
Investigations are closing in,
And all efforts to find or maintain
Integrity are wearing thin.

Untold uncertainty looms;
Unhealed sores are starting to fester.
The leadership position has been
Usurped by the court jester.

Vultures wait in anticipation
While jackals feast on defenseless lambs.
The court jester has wily perfected
And art of confusing facts and shams.

The naïve crowds hear "Hoax!" and "Fiction!"
And think the jester is being funny.
Their grating cheers drown out the call:
"Follow the money! Follow the money!"

Snake oil is in demand.
Distractions are the name of the game.
The focus has shifted from seeking the truth
And doing what's right to passing the blame.

Structures are crumbling, and yet the push
Is mainly on finding the wherewithal
To place on the country's southern border
An unnecessary wall.

In the Big House, day after day,
The leaders are playing musical chairs.
While donors and supporters watch,
Their eyes carefully guarding their shares.

Credit is taken where credit's not due;
Trust and dependability scatter.
A dream come true to a few becomes
A nightmare when the wrong things matter.

All is not well in Trumplandia.
Shhh! The world can't know. But wait!
You say the cat is out of the bag?
Then it's too late! It's way too late!

-by Bob B (8-5-17)

Kellyanne Conjob rushed to defend
Trump's penchant for telling lies.
The repercussions of his untruths
She smilingly tried to minimize.

Her brazenly obnoxious comments
Simply add fuel to the fire
And diminish her credibility
When she bolsters the words of a liar.

Excusing impropriety
Is clearly what she's doing, and yet her
Remarks make him sound foolish when
She says he doesn't know any better.

According to Kellyanne's logic here--
And give her a D minus for trying--
Trump is not telling untruths
If he doesn't believe he is lying.

- by Bob B (7-26-17)

A truck picked them up near the Mexican border
And drove across Texas in blistering heat.
A hundred or more were crammed together
With nothing to drink and nothing to eat.

The big rig rolled down the Texas highway
Heading for San Antonio, they say.
Smugglers would pick up their "cargo" there,
And SUVs would cart them away.

The temperature inside the tractor-
Trailer was over 100 degrees.
The door of the trailer was locked from the outside.
The driver ignored the passengers' pleas.

Chorus:
Farewell, dear friends--queridos amigos.
Were you a father, a brother, a son?
Whatever your motivations, you
All were victims in more ways than one.

When authorities found the vehicle
And opened the door and looked inside,
Eight of the passengers remaining
In the tractor-trailer had died.

Two more victims died in the hospital.
Others remained in a critical state.
Dehydration and heatstroke had been
Cruel agents of their sad fate.

Desperate to find better conditions,
They learned that success is not guaranteed.
Hopes can be dashed and life can be threatened
When you're a victim of smugglers' greed.

Chorus:
Farewell, dear friends--queridos amigos.
Were you a father, a brother, a son?
Whatever your motivations, you
All were victims in more ways than one.

(7-25-17) By Bob B

Tenacious! That is a word that describes you.
Ambitious, determined to succeed.
Willing to offer a helping hand
To anybody who is in need.

But be aware: you must determine
What people's needs really are.
Otherwise, your deeds are duds
And despite your efforts, you won't get far.

Wounded pride is harder for you
Than suffering from a broken heart.
And being wrong and being laughed at
Are two things that tear you apart.

You're a natural entertainer--
Sociable, with a good attitude.
You also have a tendency
To become addicted to very rich food.

You help others believe in themselves.
You also inspire the affection of friends.
Confirming your individuality
Can be a good thing; but that depends:

If you turn your ego inward,
You'll make a sudden turnabout.
Then you'll become stubborn and lazy
And try to take the easy way out.

You'll tend to want to have the last word,
To exaggerate, to overreact.
You'll make a mountain out of a molehill
And cause distress from a loss of tact.

Calling attention to yourself,
You will feast on flattery and praise.
So know who you are, and constantly seek
To improve yourself in multiple ways.

Discipline your enthusiasm.
Let your charming nature shine.
Involve yourself, but learn restraint;
Know where to draw the line.

Be a leader--an everyday hero.
Take criticism well.
Enjoy life and all its pleasures,
But heed the inner warning bell.

The Leo person is said to have
A powerful personality
And is very good at turning
Ideas into reality.

So in a nutshell, that's our Leo,
Depending on many factors, of course:
Planets, houses, and rising signs.
The Leo can be a tour de force.

-By Bob B

Trump has issued a warning
In his inimitable manner,
Which couldn't have been more obvious
If he had held up a banner.

He said that investigators
Should definitely not peer
Into his financial dealings.
The reason? That's not clear.

Why would such inquiries
Be unjustified?
Hmm. It makes us wonder
What he's trying to hide.

The man has a propensity--
And doesn't give a rap!--
For making himself look guilty
Whenever he opens his trap.

- by Bob B (7-20-17)

How often greed dictates policy
And governs the base and loathsome actions
Of lawmakers making decisions
While fooling the public with clever distractions!

How greed greases the giant wheel
That turns--constantly in motion--
While powers that guide the mechanism
Boldly expect unhindered devotion!

How often greed in the guise of good
Fills the pockets to overflowing
Of crafty manipulators while
The poor struggle, never knowing!

How greed fills the callous hearts
Of those who fail to see the disparity
Between their growing accounts and their
Expenditures that they call "charity"!

How often greed displaces well-
Intentioned efforts to help humanity
In those whose lack of compassion is nurtured
By boundless egoistical vanity!

Watch them bow to the god of greed;
Watch them sing and dance on his altar,
Hoping that he will strengthen their
Resolve should they ever falter.

-by Bob B (7-19-17)

There was a leader who cried wolf
So often that he
Befuddled the people with whoppers running
The gamut from a to z.

The more he cried wolf, the more the leader's
Stories wouldn't stop.
He kept it up and everyone watched his
Approval ratings drop.

The group surrounding him joined in
And cried wolf as well.
In all of that country's history,
There was no parallel.

"Wolf! Wolf!" he'd cry, and his public
Ran to his defense
Again and again, totally
Defying common sense.

Eventually, more caught on;
Skepticism rose.
And fewer people let themselves
Be led around by the nose.

Whether or not the leader believed
His stories would empower him,
Wise folk knew that sooner or later
The truth would devour him.

-by Bob B (7-12-17)

World leaders met and Trump,
Who lives in various wonderlands,
Also had a meeting with Putin
And played right into the dictator's hands.

Trump admires Putin--a man
Who bullies targets to do his bidding.
If Trump's not aware that he's being played,
The neophyte has to be kidding.

A man who loves to undermine
Democracy and put down dissent,
Create chaos in the world
And pull the strings of our president,

Maintain control of a criminal state
Where greed, graft, and corruption hold sway,
And jail or **** opponents doesn't
Even deserve the time of day.

Yes, we know that power corrupts
And absolute power, absolutely.
Its hideous effect on a free people
Is something we're aware of acutely.

Does Trump just love the idea that Putin
Controls the country, controls the press,
Surrounds himself with loyalists,
And governs the people with fear and duress?

Not a pretty picture, of course.
Concerned Americans very much fear
That Putin-like threats to democracy
Are showing their ugly faces here.

- by Bob B (7-9-17)

"It's so much fun being president
Of a great country like this.
I love it when people sing my praises,
So everyone can share my bliss.

"I can do whatever I want.
The only ones who seem to obsess
About my activities are
What I call the dishonest press.

"My people don't give a ****
About my income tax returns.
My people have faith in me
And listen when I express my concerns.

"I can hire whoever I want.
And what's more I can require them
To pledge complete loyalty to me.
If they don't, I can fire them.

"You can gain so much support
If what you do when critics start pressing
Is cut off access to information.
Confuse 'em all and keep 'em guessing.

"When they bring up a Russia connection
And even suggest the word 'collusion,'
I distract them with tweet after tweet
To make a commotion and cause confusion.

"One of my favorite perks on the job
Is taking all of my paid vacations.
I also love having the power
To cut off any investigations.

"My business empire continues to grow.
Conflict of interest? Bah, that's bunk.
Don't believe it when the media
Say my approval ratings have shrunk.

"All of my success up to now
Adamantly underscores
One of my favorite sayings, and that's
'You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.'

"And when the people take you to court
For stiffing them or trying to ***** 'em,
Use your billions of dollars to pay
Lawyers to help you countersue 'em.

I love to have my fans in Congress
Eating out of the palm of my hand.
We have to merely yell, 'Fake news!'
When something doesn't go as planned.

"Regarding international affairs,
They say I'm awkward and not well versed.
It isn't about the rest of the world;
It's all about America first!

"Any group that gives me money,
Gets my support all the way--
From dangerous climate change deniers
To all my friends at the NRA.

"When my critics complain about
Anything I say or do,
I love to go on TV and say,
'I'M the president; not you.'"

-by Bob B (7-5-17)

He walks in the footsteps that few can tread.
His gentle voice is commanding--
Not in a commandeering manner,
But full of understanding,

Kindness, compassion, patience, and peace.
There's no way to measure
The love that permeates his being.
His words: a priceless treasure.

While others with judgmental views
Tear the world apart,
This man has not one speck
Of hatred in his heart.

Deep humility guides his steps
And isn't a mere abstraction.
Passion for humanity
Governs his every action.

You mean Christ, you say to me
With words one could defend.
Christ? No, I mean George,°
My school chum and my friend.

-by Bob B (6-28-17)

°The Eleventh Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey

C. B. was a son of a B!
Did anybody really like him?
Most of the people he encountered
Usually found more reasons to strike him.

In school the kids called him a bully.
Bully he was, and bully he did.
He derived inordinate pleasure
Tormenting any vulnerable kid.

His schoolyard behavior was no better
Than his disruptive behavior in class.
In fact, most teachers would call him
An incorrigible pain in the ***.

In high school he was just as aggressive.
His reputation was firmly upheld.
Holding a freshman's head in the toilet
Finally got the bully expelled.

How he earned money. Well, that was
A real mystery--through and through.
Not surprisingly his motto
Was "***** them before they ***** you."

What his girlfriend saw in him
Was truly anybody's guess.
Aware of his fractious personality,
The woman married him nevertheless.

People made bets on how long the couple
Could last in a stormy marriage from hell.
After the wife had had enough,
She packed up the kids and said farewell.

C. B. remained estranged
From both of his kids for the rest of his life.
Some woman out there was very lucky
For he never found another wife.

Money. That was all that mattered.
People? Employees? They were dispensable.
His dog was even afraid of him
And sensed that he was reprehensible.

He bought a number of businesses.
How they lasted was a surprise.
Frankly, most people suspected
Secret Mexican Mafia ties.

One day C. B.'s lifeless body
Was found in his driveway. The coroner said
A heart attack was the cause;
But some suspected foul play instead.

A gravestone reads: "Here lies C. B.
When life was hard, he would persist.
Survived by two loving children,
The doting father will be missed."

Whoever wrote that epitaph?
You wonder: what did he or she owe him?
The author of those unfounded words
Obviously didn't know him.

Oddly the deaths of louses and scoundrels
Are so hard to identify,
For based on gravestones and the obits,
It seems that only good people die.

- by Bob B (6-27-17)

Saber Rattling doesn't cut it
In this day and age.
Mindless ranting intensifies
A dangerous pressure gauge.

Threats, idle or otherwise,
Prove not strength but weakness
For those who think diplomacy
Epitomizes meekness.

They say that there is strength in numbers,
But that's not always true.
When numbers mask insecurity,
The real face shows through.

Credibility indicates
An inner strength and power.
Brute force and ignorance
Ultimately sour.

Praise to those who seek the truth
Before the world shatters.
Woe to us if we lose sight
Of what really matters.

- by Bob B (6-21-17)

Politics! What a crazy beast--
One that fiercely polarizes
Couples, friends, relatives, and nations
And often denigrates compromises.

You might interpret a situation
From a completely opposite perspective
From how I understand it, for our
Listening skills are oddly selective.

To me a right that goes without saying,
Might be a dangerous threat to you.
Likewise, a cause that's close to your heart
Is one I might not take kindly to.

Politics shouldn't be so divisive.
After all, it's plain to see
That everyone would get along
If everybody thought like me.

-by Bob B (6-20-17)

Every time a shooting occurs,
We shake our heads in disbelief.
Subsequent dialogues reach
An impasse that further deepens our grief.

Democrats insist that current
Gun laws are not strict enough--
An idea that many Republican
Lawmakers firmly rebuff.

Those same Republicans
Choose to exercise their might
In protecting what they consider
Americans' Second Amendment right.

Democrats, in disagreement,
Counter with increasing frustration
That aspects of the Second Amendment
Leave much room for interpretation.

"This is not the time," some say,
"For lengthy discussions on gun control."
And once again we find ourselves
Going down the rabbit hole.

Gun violence here is inter-
Nationally unparalleled.
A vicious circle perpetuates
A tragedy that's unexcelled.

Guns in the wrong hands we know
Will have violent repercussions.
The only way to solve the problem
Will come from having healthy discussions.

If we maintain the status quo,
Read the writing on the wall:
Death and violence will increase
If no action is taken at all.

-by Bob B (6-15-17)

You are very likely to have
Remarkable intuition.
What makes you extremely nurturing
Is your caring disposition.

You react emotionally
To everything, but sometimes notions
Might be instrumental in making
You a prisoner of your emotions.

You are attached to home and hearth,
But it isn't at all bizarre
For you to make a comfy, *****
Atmosphere wherever you are.

Because you're apt to cling to the past,
Sometimes you will find it hard
To let go of things in your life.
You have to be on your guard:

If you are not careful, you'll
Find your life in complete disorder
When you're no longer the avid collector
But instead the consummate hoarder.

Even regarding relationships,
It's hard for you to let them go.
Once you've reconciled that issue,
You'll have reached a new plateau.

Your sensitivity
Reflects the circumstances around you.
Being needed and helping others,
Are two things that solidly ground you.

Emotional security
Is, of course, your principal goal.
Just don't stoop to manipulating
Others in order to be in control.

A strong will and determination
Guide you to help others in need.
But if you feel too insecure,
Criticism will make you bleed.

If you feel at all threatened,
Your ambitions will remain hidden
Until you're somewhat confident
That all threats have been overridden.

You are deeply concerned about
What other people think of you.
So building your self-confidence
Is one of the best things you can do.

Only when you are comfortable
Will you open up completely,
Although your guarded nature will
Tend to make you do it discreetly.

You love feeding family and guests
Even if you aren't the best cook.
You love to add your personal flair
And hate to always go by the book.

Since you absorb so many feelings
From your surroundings, you must retreat
To a quiet place at times;
If not, your engine will overheat.

Don't let your moods get out of hand,
And work on being more direct.
Then the world will be your oyster--
More so than you'd ever expect.

- by Bob B (6-14-17)

"Now that we are gathered here,
Let us count all the ways
I have been successful in
My first 143 days.

"When we look at my wonderful record,
It's impossible not to see
That no other president
Has ever done more than me.

"So let's go around the table.
I would like to hear from you.
Tell me what you think of me--
Of course, from MY point of view."

"Thank you," said Secretary Priebus,
Opening his packet of Splenda,
"For the opportunity
And blessing to serve your agenda."

The lavishing of praise continued.
They knew what would come to pass
If they didn't pour it on
And kiss the president's giant ***.

- by Bob B (6-13-17)

A little after two A.M.
This morning forty-nine names were read--
The names of forty-nine victims who
Now are sleeping among the dead.

They lost their lives a year ago
When a gunman, ISIS-inspired,
Sneaked his weapon into a nightclub,
Held it up, and open-fired.

Those who survived the horrible shooting
At the gay club where the crime took place
Will constantly relive that nightmare.
It's hardly something that time can erase.

Fifty-three patrons were wounded that night,
Many of whom still are reeling
From the horror, and they still require
Physical and mental healing.

Think of the families and friends of the victims.
Think of the magnitude of their loss.
How do you measure the sadness when
Extremists and innocent lives crisscross?

People from all over the world
Were appalled by the killer's barbarity
And sent kind words of sympathy
As they joined together in solidarity.

However, from under a dark veil
Of hatred and hypocrisy,
Emerged some voices of hatred from those
Hell-bent on a theocracy.

Voices of fanaticism,
No matter the source, always destroy
The goodness that is meant to be
And stifle liberty and joy.

Today in Orlando and in other cities,
Forty-nine times the church bells will sound.
May we remember the innocent victims
And let love and compassion abound.

- by Bob B (6-12-17)

One guy says the other guy did it;
The other guy denies it.
The world watches the back and forth
As stations televise it.

In what the one doesn't say
Much can be inferred
If the listener carefully
Examines every word.

When the other opens his mouth
Different worlds collide
As outrageous accusations
Knock the truth aside.

The first one has a sterling record;
The other one's pants are on fire.
Would you believe the first one OR
The pathological liar?

- By Bob B (6-10-17)

"Investigations
Get in the way.
How sad! They turn
My bright sky gray.
Some things are better
Not to know.
That's what I learned
Long, long ago.

(CHORUS)
"Oh, lift the cloud
That's over my head.
Come on, let's put
This baby to bed.
My loyal lackeys
All make me proud.
So will you, too,
If you lift this cloud.

"Oh, I can fire
Whoever I choose.
Then you can watch
It on the news.
Or you can read
It in my tweet.
Sometimes life
Is bittersweet.

(CHORUS)
"Oh, lift the cloud
That's over my head.
Come on, let's put
This baby to bed.
My loyal lackeys
All make me proud.
So will you, too,
If you lift this cloud.

"About Putin…
Well, he's no threat.
The only thing
That I regret
Is that I couldn't
Make people see
That Putin's been
Very good to me.

(CHORUS)
"Oh, lift the cloud
That's over my head.
Come on, let's put
This baby to bed.
I hope you do
What makes me proud.
You'll be my friend
If you lift this cloud."

- by Bob B (6-8-17)

It's amazing how many people are not
Appalled by Trump's alternate reality,
Which is fed by political gibberish
That gives it a vitriolic vitality.

The man sees the world not as it is,
But only in how he can mold and shape it.
His main relationship with the earth
Is finding ways to plunder and **** it.

Scorning science and fact-based query,
He is more content to remain
In a protective shell of ignorance.
That's impossible to explain.

Alternative facts permeate
His psyche, leaving him out of touch
With truths that help the world progress.
To him such truths are only a crutch.

He's conned the people into believing
That corporations would never deceive them.
When he and his team make up stories,
Astonishingly, people believe them!

Political correctness to him
Is an obstacle in his path,
And anyone who points that out
Becomes the target of his wrath.

Paranoia underlies
His selfish motives and decisions.
Bizarre conspiracy theories color
Much of the content of his visions.

Compassion to him is strictly conditional
And given with expectations in mind.
Strict adherence to extreme notions
Has made him forget how to be kind.

His idea of greatness is really
A chimera that reiterates
A motto of separation: "We
The privileged of the United States."

- by Bob B (6-7-17)

Pandora lifted the lid from her box
And boy! ALL hell broke loose.
You want to put the "evils" back?
You can try, but it's no use.

(It wasn't a box but really a jar,
Many translators maintain.
Box, jar…call it whatever.
The story's key points remain.)

Hephaestus had followed Zeus' orders
And made Pandora from the earth.
The first of the race of women was she,
The story goes--for what it's worth.

Sickness, strife, toil, killing…
In short the ills of humankind
Escaped and now we're stuck with them.
For any evil that comes to mind--

Countless ways to destroy the earth,
Ways to ****, ways to maim,
Terrorist bombs, torture, and plunder--
Dear Pandora takes the blame.

(She shares similarities
With Eve of Biblical fame, but whether
There were connections, that would be
Another story altogether.)

If someone said, "See this box?
Don't open it, whatever you do."
Or gave the command, "Don't eat this fruit!"
Wouldn't you be curious, too?

In letting out the world's evils
Pandora was pushing the envelope.
The one thing that she left in the box
Was a little glimmer of hope.

Maybe that hope stays in the box--
Out of our touch. That's a suggestion.
Or if it were released, could it
Conquer evil? That's a good question.

Couldn't Pandora see that this
Was JUST a setup? Well, she should have.
But if SHE hadn't lifted the lid,
Somebody else certainly would have.

- by Bob B (6-6-17)

A monk went to meet with his master
And wondered what the sage would say.
"Master," he said, "I'm disappointed;
Today hasn't been my day.

"My mind is very distracted; it's like
A monkey jumping from limb to limb.
My legs ache; my eyelids are heavy;
I fall asleep when the lights are dim.

"Whatever I'm doing doesn't seem right.
I seem to be floundering in a morass."
The master quietly gazed at the student
And calmly said, "It will pass."

A month later the monk returned
To meet with his master once again.
"Master," he cried excitedly,
"I think I've grasped the meaning of Zen!

"Today my meditation was perfect.
I feel so calm; I feel such peace.
My mind is clear, focused and centered--
The way it should be when all thoughts cease.

"It's just like a…I don't know…
A calm lake as smooth as glass."
The master looked at the monk and said
Matter-of-factly, "It will pass."

-by Bob B (6-1-17)

°A Zen story retold in verse

Two men recently died from a clash
On a Portland light-rail train.
The two men lost their precious lives
For reasons so insane.

Someone, angry, confused, and deranged,
Entered the car and began
Assaulting two women verbally.
Obviously, the man

Was more than just a pesky nuisance,
For three passengers tried
To intervene because the rantings
And ravings wouldn't subside.

The white supremacist, Islamophobic
Madman yelled in a fury
That Muslims should die. The line between
Safety and danger was blurry.

The three heroes became the target
Of the reprobate.
He stabbed all three, but two of them died:
Victims of cruel hate.

One man was a former vet
And loving father of four;
The other a recent college grad,
Gone forevermore.

Even though we know the answer
We still ask ourselves why
It is that good Samaritans
Sometimes have to die.

- by Bob B (5-31-17)

If you don't like what you hear
And it's hard to reconcile
What your critics say about you
With your particular governing style,
Discredit your critics, call them dishonest,
Berate and revile them. It's no crime.
Say their news is fake. (We know
That some cults do it all the time.)

Just call it fake news.
Tell me, what have you got to lose?
Facts and truth are now passé;
Don't ever let them get in your way.

If your critics hit too close to home--
If they're on to your plans and schemes--
Finding a way to bash the media
Might be easier than it seems.
Get the public on your side;
Play the victim; whine and cry.
Yell, "Unfair treatment!" and you'll
Get their sympathy by and by.

Just call it fake news.
Tell me, what have you got to lose?
Facts and truth are now passé;
Don't ever let them get in your way.

If the scientific reports
Don't accord with what you think,
And the experts' findings and your
Jockeyed figures aren't in sync,
Make the public skeptical
Of scientific ideas, and then
You'll be able to sway the people
With your false "facts" again and again.

Make your own fake news.
Tell me, what have you got to lose?
Facts and truth are now passé;
Don't ever let them get in your way.

- by Bob B (5-30-17)

The Vietnam vet stares at the wide
Forty-two-inch TV screen.
Every so often he steals a glance
At an article in an old magazine.

He rolls his chair across the room
To look out the window. The sun is shining.
He hears a voice on the TV say,
"Every cloud has a silver lining."

Shaking his head, he wheels himself
Back across the room to see
What is going on in the world.
Elections? Storms? A shooting spree?

Memorial Day parades are occurring;
On gravestones wreaths are being laid.
On one channel hundreds of photos
Of fallen soldiers are being displayed.

Then he hears a news report:
More U.S. troops to Afghanistan.
He sits in quiet disbelief,
Listening to the news anchorman.

Looking down at his lifeless legs,
Again he can only shake his head.
His heart sinks, so he changes the channel
To watch another program instead.

The words, however, continue to haunt him
And echo through his war-weary brain:
"More troops…more troops…"
To Afghanistan? This is insane!

"How can so many commentators
Look and sound so unconcerned?"
He asks himself, over and over.
"In all these years, what have we learned?"

Depressed, he turns the TV off
And sits alone, lost in his thoughts,
His heart racing, his hands trembling,
His eyes tearing, his stomach in knots.

Only those in the battle zones
See what they'd never seen before--
Things that will surely haunt them forever--
The unspeakable horrors of war.

- by Bob B (5-26-17)

As Putin pulls the puppet strings,
The marionettes all dance.
If the strings are hard to see,
Take another glance.

The marionettes think they are
Real people now.
They think their voices are their own.
They smile and take a bow.

But towering above them there,
The puppeteer controls
The actions of his little friends
And figures out their roles.

So in control of the strings in Russia,
Putin makes it clear:
Show resistance to him and you will
Die or disappear.

Heads of state and businessmen
In countries large and small,
Romp around on Putin's stage.
How he loves them all!

Do they know their puppeteer
Would just as soon combat them?
Don't they see that Putin's laughing
Not WITH or FOR but AT them?

-by Bob B (5-25-17)

Bowie State University
Student, Richard Collins III,
Commissioned as a second lieutenant,
Will not graduate. Have you heard?

On the path to serving his nation
In many more ways than one,
Collins' life was quickly ended.
Another mother lost her son.

Standing with friends, minding his business,
Collins--as witnesses will attest--
Was stabbed by a homegrown, racist terrorist--
Stabbed directly in the chest.

Who was the killer? Sean Urbanski,
A current student at UMD,
Also a member of Alt-*****: Nation,
A truth of a painful reality.

Emboldened by white supremacists
Working in the White House, no less,
Racist groups are on the rise,
Spreading their loathsome hatefulness.

They say that Collins was brutally murdered
Because of the color of his skin.
He was murdered because of hatred,
For hatred is racism's twin.

Resist the scourge of discrimination.
Mobilize--it's never too late--
To extirpate ALL forms
Of ugly, white-supremacist hate.

-by Bob B (5-23-17)

To distract public attention from
Ongoing investigations,
Trump is on an overseas trip
Cementing international relations.

First stop: Saudi Arabia,
Where President Trump stamped his seal
On a one-hundred-ten-billion-
Dollar war weapons deal--

A deal great for jobs, they say,
And a death blow to the mujahideen.
Basically, it's a huge boost
To the mighty, monstrous war machine.

War crime violations continue
As Saudi bombs frequently strike
Hospitals and markets in Yemen
Causing the number of deaths to spike--

Deaths of innocent civilians including
Children. Children! What's going on?
Jobs so that the war monger
Conductor can wave his deadly baton?

We turn our heads when the Saudis commit
Domestic abuses and NOT in small scale--
While they carry out mass executions
And put women drivers in jail.

No, this isn't the first "deal."
Such deals have happened before.
Money is often the siren luring
Humankind to weapons and war.

This to Trump is a great plus
So he can proudly play the hero.
If anyone is keeping score:
Trump one; humanity zero.

-by Bob B (5-21-17)

Ideas and communication:
Both of those energize you.
Whatever stifles your self-expression
Can dangerously immobilize you.

For you there's always something new
And interesting to be explored.
Two of your biggest fears are
Both routine and being bored.

Your raison d'être could be
Your intellectual curiosity.
You could, on the other hand,
Exhibit an uncontrolled verbosity.

You devour information.
At multi-tasking you're number one.
But if you go too far, you'll be
A jack-of-all-trades but master of none.

Projects, errands, and meetings keep you
Occupied and on the go.
"Variety is the spice of life!"
Is stamped on your portfolio.

Wanting to know everything
About all others can be a plus;
But when other people want to know
All about you, don't make a fuss.

You're extremely adaptable
To changing ideas and situations.
When others can't keep up with you…
Well, that causes complications.

Slow down and keep in mind
That not everyone shares your ability
To store so much information
And thrive on natural versatility.

A constant need for a change of scene--
To which you hold strict adherence--
Keeps you moving. Just be sure
To cultivate perseverance.

Because of your mental dexterity,
It's easy for you to jump through hoops.
Because you're good at networking,
You are comfortable working with groups.

You often know what others are thinking,
And if you're more the extrovert,
At sales you are dynamite,
For you could sell a guy his own shirt.

If your focus is too much on
Mental stimulation, beware:
Others will think you're superficial--
That you are distant and do not care.

Always full of energy,
You're the social butterfly.
You still need time to yourself;
"Freedom!" is your battle cry.

Don't take on too many tasks
So that you leave them all unfinished.
Restlessness and nervousness
Can make you feel drained and diminished.

If you learn how to concentrate
On one thing at a time, you'll find
It's not that hard and helps you center
What could be a distracted mind.

Balancing the mind and feelings:
That's the biggest challenge you face.
Use your insight, wit, and charm
To make the world a better place.

-by Bob B (5-20-17)

A river of lies flows from the White House.
Watch as the river widens each day.
Watch as it gains speed and momentum
And all credibility flows away.

The reasons for firing James Comey,
FBI Director, are scattered:
Because of Comey's treatment of Clinton's
Emails? Really, as if that mattered.

Then it was a DoJ
Suggestion that Trump was acting upon,
Adding another story to the
Great pretense phenomenon.

Next in an interview,
Trump sang another song--
That he had really wanted to fire
James Comey all along.

A man whom Trump had praised in the past
Was simply a "showboat," a "grandstander,"
Who'd lost control of the FBI.
Watch the river of lies meander.

We have heard a different story
Having to do with loyalty--
That Comey was fired because he wouldn't
Bow down before the royalty.

Just mention "Putin," "Russia," "hacking,"
"Collusion," and yes, "investigation,"
And the "You're fired!" president
Acts out of desperation.

Has Trump considered telling the truth?
He and his team should give it a try.
If they are going to make up stories,
At least they ought to stick to one lie.

- by Bob B (5-12-17)

House Republicans just couldn't wait
To annihilate Obamacare.
They swindled the American people,
And now the louses are walking on air.

They've rushed through a disastrous bill
With no hearings and no score.
The message they are sending out
Is one that's difficult to ignore.

Denying essential benefits
Now would be up to the state.
Older Americans also could be
Charged a much higher rate.

The plan for people with pre-existing
Conditions? The cutthroat Republicans gored it.
According to them, you'll be covered.
If, that is, you can afford it!

Millions would lose their health insurance,
But our leaders care not a jot.
That Medicaid would be gutted,
They didn't give a second thought.

Minimum requirements
Won't be a priority.
Those with excellent coverage
Will be in the minority.

The plan is NOT a health care plan.
Listen to their sales pitch.
What it all boils down to is
A huge tax break for the rich.

After voting on a bill
That screws millions of people, they
Had a victory celebration--
A nauseating, sickening soirée.

If this is the best that they can do
To make our lives better, let the truth
Mercilessly come back to haunt them
Next time in the voting booth.

- by Bob B (5-5-17)

You can tell a lot about
A person by the ones he admires.
Another telling factor is
The people whom he inspires.

Donald Trump, for example,
Praises Putin, a leader who
Has jailed dissenters, squashed human rights,
And done away with opponents, too.

After a questionable referendum,
Which restricts in many ways
Civil rights, the leader of Turkey,
Erdoğan, received Trump's praise.

Duterte of the Philippines--
Authoritarian and leading official--
Has had thousands of people killed
In a manner blatantly extrajudicial.

So that's his way of solving the problem
Of drugs in the Philippines is it?
And guess who wants the blood-thirsty,
Despotic leader to come for a visit?

And then there's the leader of North Korea,
Kim Jong Un. Only a rookie
Would say that the mad, unhinged and murderous
Leader was a "pretty smart cookie."

Trump's had business ties with three
Of the above countries. There's no mistaking.
But does this mean that a Trump Tower
In Pyongyang is in the making?

-by Bob B (5-3-17)

The Skotzki girls, Helga and Inge,
Fifteen and thirteen years old,
Boarded the SS St. Louis in Hamburg.
Let their story forever be told.

The girls' parents, Gunther and Charlotte,
Experienced with growing unease
The dangers of living in **** Germany.
The solution: to flee as refugees.

Nine hundred Jewish passengers
Aboard the luxury liner departed
In May of 1939.
For them a new life had started.

Or so they hoped. Two weeks later,
When they reached Cuba--the end of their trip--
Only twenty-eight of the people
Were permitted to leave the ship.

Discrimination and politics
Had suddenly played a deadly hand,
Affecting the fate of those who sought
Asylum in a foreign land.

Toward Florida the ship sailed.
The refugees begged for immigrant status.
The desperate cries refused to budge
The cold, political apparatus.

"We've already fulfilled our quotas."
"Careful! They might be **** spies."
Excuses emerged and rumors spread
With paranoid suppositions and lies.

The captain steered the ship back to Europe.
The refugees caught in a game of chance
Were spread among four countries:
The Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, and France.

Of the nine hundred passengers,
Two hundred fifty-four of them lost
Their lives while they were stuck in Europe
During the ghastly Holocaust.

Helga and Inge, along with their parents,
Probably struggled to comprehend
How politics could come before people.
In Auschwitz their lives came to an end.

We know we can't turn back the clock,
But we must do whatever it takes
To put people first and do what is right--
Or else we're doomed to repeat our mistakes.

- by Bob B (4-25-17)

A word that describes you is "practical."
Before doing anything, you want to know
Whether it has a definite purpose.
If it doesn't, it's a no-go.

Before taking action, you must determine
What advantages will be gained.
If you lose your concentration
And scatter your forces, you'll feel drained.

You can concentrate all of your energy
For protracted periods of time.
But if anyone tries to rush you,
That, to you, is a major crime.

Whatever you call reality,
That is what you cling to securely.
And because of your stick-to-itiveness,
You don't give up prematurely.

You need to feel emotionally secure,
And so you are naturally cautious--
Always on the look-out for those
Weighty concerns that threaten to squash us.

Regarding dependability,
That is something at which you excel.
But to you it's extremely important
That you can depend on others as well.

Disappointment doesn't come easy;
You take it very much to heart,
Especially since you know you always
Put the horse before the cart.

If you can follow your planned agenda
And have the time, your tenacity
Helps you accomplish all your goals--
Everything that's within your capacity.

You can be loving and patient,
Soft-spoken, and subdued;
But you can be a stubborn cuss
When you're in a not-so-good mood.

Though you're usually slow to anger,
Surely you know what people say:
If you make a Taurean mad,
You'd better get out of his or her way!

You have a keen eye for beauty,
But don't be too materialistic.
Your strong need for material comforts
Could make you act opportunistic.

You need to be close to the earth;
Nature gives you inspiration.
The feeling that your foundation is weak
Causes a lot of exasperation.

If you're stubborn, you're VERY stubborn;
If you're lazy, you've VERY lazy.
Since you're good at whatever you do,
That shouldn't sound so crazy.

Your determination and strength
Should be an inspiration to all.
If you want to, you can do wonders.
It's up to you; it's your call.

- by Bob B (4-23-17)

Bill O'Reilly got the boot!
Fox News has said good-by--
A place where reputable commentators
Are already in short supply.

He faces too many allegations
Of ****** harassment. But, oh dear!
What a mess he's made of things
Now in his Fox News career!

Being a brute and a hypocrite
For Bill O'Reilly was NOT hard to handle.
Funny, but he was an outspoken critic
During the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal.

Peddler of white nationalistic
Ideas, O'Reilly does have his fans.
He'll find a job with someone who
Peddles theories as bizarre as that man's.

His sudden departure from the station
Doesn't really affect us directly.
But why doesn't a person like him
Behave more circumspectly?

I guess when your mentor is Roger Ailes,
You have the power to do as you wish--
To regard EACH female employee
Or guest as merely a **** dish.

- by Bob B (4-21-17)

Deregulation.
Deregulation.
That's what Trump says
Is going to save the nation.

To hell with the environment
And social media activist memes.
Let the coal industry dump
Coal debris in rivers and streams.

Forget greenhouse gas emissions.
There are rules to rearrange,
Repeal, expunge, delete, rescind…
Who cares about climate change?

Good-bye to banking restrictions.
Give tighter controls the ax.
Down with all consumer protections!
Three cheers for Goldman Sachs!

Who needs the EPA?
Why do all the activists seethe
When factories pollute the air?
The air is JUST something we breathe.

Caveat emptor--
That's the rule that's going to last.
Caveat venditor
Will become a thing of the past.

Benefiting the 1%
Has to be a worthwhile goal.
How else will those at the top
Keep the people under control?

Through rollbacks in regulations
Runs one common thread:
Relief for the corporations;
The rest of us can all drop dead.

Deregulation.
Deregulation.
That, according to Donald Trump,
Is going to save the nation.

- by Bob B (4-17-17)